ã€ŠNew Beginnings - A Pokemon Slice of Life. [OC/Isekai/Move Tutor/Breeder]ã€‹


 Chapter 1 - Lost.

    In a tiny meadow in a forest clearing, dirt flew out of a tiny hole in rhythmic fashion.

    Ethan Reed, a lost man making do, cupped his hands and yelled into the tiny opening in the ground. ¡°I think that¡¯s enough, little guy. Come back up and I¡¯ll get you sorted with a tasty treat.¡±

    He took a few steps back, more than aware of what was about to happen. He¡¯d been through this before. A few seconds later, from out of the hole, a small white rodent with blue stripes, a large fluffy tail, and two yellow circles on its pudgy cheeks erupted out from the hole with vigor.

    Ethan shielded his eyes from the sun above and watched as the rodent soared through the sky in glee. It flailed out its arms and legs and with the backdrop of the sun, stuck a pose for all to see¡ªwhich was just Ethan.

    ¡°Pachiiii!¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes. You did a great job. Come on over here and I''ll give you your payment.¡±

    Ethan walked off toward one of his many berry trees to fetch the little rascal some food for his services. The Pachirisu¡ªthat¡¯s right, the Pokemon¡ªquickly finished his little dance before scrambling up Ethan¡¯s leg and plopping himself on his shoulder. It chittered in happiness and anticipation of its well-earned treat.

    Ethan knew well that the Pachirisu didn¡¯t need to help him. He had, and would continue to, steal his berries from him from time to time, but there wasn¡¯t much he could do about it. Not without a Pokemon of his own. Thankfully, this little guy decided that helping him around his little plot of land was fun¡­ sometimes.

    Ethan slowly picked a few ripe berries that seemed to be Pachirisu¡¯s favorite. He¡¯d collected quite a few berries and grown them into trees over the past few months, but with no one to talk to or books to read about what they could be, he didn¡¯t really know what most of them were.

    Oh, he knew what some of them were. He wasn¡¯t a complete novice when it came to Pokemon, but he most definitely wasn¡¯t an expert. He knew of Oran, Sitrus, and Leppa¡¯s, which he had here on his small plot of land, but beyond that, he was flying blind.

    Sure, if he had someone come up and tell him ¡®Hey! This one¡¯s a Chesto Berry!¡¯ He would know that it restored a pokemon from sleep¡­ but he didn¡¯t know what it looked like. Previously, they were just pixels on a screen. He didn¡¯t pay that much attention to them back then.

    He wished he did.

    The berries he was currently picking were definitely weird. They were about the size of a strawberry, but with a less rounded tip. They were mostly blue, but a few streaks of tan lines streaked around them in a circle. He¡¯d eaten a few in the past, but they were very sour and not to his taste. Pachirisu and a host of other nearby Pokemon loved them, though, so he kept them around to grow.

    The now impatient Pachirisu strolled down his arm with haste and swiped the berries from his hand as he was midway through picking them and quickly escaped through the maze of berry trees. ¡°Pachiiiiii!¡± He chittered in a laugh from off in the distance, no longer to be seen.

    Ethan sighed and frowned as he lazily made his way through his neat rows of berry trees toward his shelter. His toes sank into the grassy field and dirt along the way, a strangely comforting feeling when he was all alone.

    Once back at his shelter, which was a very crude shack he had wrangled up in between two tilted trees, he entered inside through the hanging vines and grabbed some water from an enormous bowl made of solid rock. It was like what he¡¯d imagined a large birdbath would be, if he was being honest with himself. Much too large to be a bowl for sure. He¡¯d paid a passing Geodude some berries to carve it for him, and it¡¯d worked well for him ever since.

    After cleaning his hands and having a drink. Ethan sat down on his grass mat¡ªhis bed¡ªand thought about what his life has become.

    A few months ago, maybe half a year? He¡¯d been riding the train back home from work while playing Pokemon-GO on his phone. He wasn¡¯t ever good at the normal Pokemon games, but this one took little effort and he generally liked the franchise. Anything past the fairy type and mega evolutions he wasn¡¯t very familiar with, as he had begun his adult life and lost time for delving deep into the nit and gritty of Pokemon anymore, but he was vaguely familiar with the giant pokemon and the ones with weird crystals on their heads.

    As he was playing, he heard an enormous boom, and then he was here. That¡¯s it. No special meeting with God, Arceus, Jirachi¡­ nothing. Just¡­ here, in this little meadow stuck surrounded by forests.

    At first, like anyone would be, he was confused and scared. He¡¯d traveled through the surrounding forest plenty, trying to find food, water, shelter, people¡­ but he¡¯d always come back after finding no signs of anybody. He¡¯d been alone here for months¡­

    Embarrassingly, the first time he¡¯d seen a Pokemon, he didn¡¯t even know what it was. To this day, he still doesn¡¯t know what the first one was. It was small, barely a foot tall, and had a weirdly human face with earmuffs¡­ but it was in a puddle and looked like a dark blue tadpole. After seeing such a horrifying sight. He screamed and ran away.

    Of course, he eventually figured out he was in the world of Pokemon once he saw some more familiar looking ones, such as Teddiursa and its horrifying mother Ursaring, who roared with enough force to knock him on his ass and send him packing.

    But most of the Pokemon around him were friendly. Yeah, they stole his berries and generally ignored him, but they never actively sought to injure him or anything like that. They let him be and as long as he didn¡¯t threaten them, they didn¡¯t really care. Pachirisu was a good example. He¡¯d come by, watch him for a bit, maybe help him out with something, then saunter off with some well-earned berries.

    Some of the more eager ones stayed around and made their homes next to his. Mostly little grass Pokemon like Hoppip and Oddish, but they never interacted with him when? he walked over and tried to talk to them. They were content to soak up the sun and what not? He wasn¡¯t actually sure.

    ¡°Teddi Ted!¡±

    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    Just as Ethan was lost in thought, the joyful sounds of a Teddiursa outside broke the silence, making his eyebrows raise in surprise. They¡¯d come by every once in awhile with their mother to steal some of his berries. Much like all the others¡­ but there wasn¡¯t much he could do about it. Thankfully, their mother didn¡¯t mind his presence much. Why not go say hello?

    With a nod Ethan stood and left his hobbled together home and spotted two Teddiursa sprinting through his lines of trees. Their mother, Ursaring, stood a good seven feet tall and watched them play with a calculating, hover mom eye. She instantly noticed him, but dismissed him as a threat immediately.

    He sat outside his small hut on a nearby log and watched as both Teddiursa stuffed their mouths with an assortment of berries. Their small stubby arms coated with berry juice as they play fought with one another. ¡°Te Teddi!¡±

    Ethan smiled as the two stuffed animal looking Teddiursa got really into it. With a raised eyebrow, he noticed that they were even using moves. One of the Teddiursa¡¯s picked berries and coated them in a black film before throwing them at the other. It was probably the move Fling. The other caught them out of the air with a glow of white and then tackled them, radiating with the same color. Covet and Tackle.

    Ursaring took notice and uncrossed her arms with a smile as she watched them squabble.

    After a few more seconds, Ethan noticed that during their fight, that they were growing closer and closer to him. They were still a good fifty feet out, but even he knew that getting close to a Teddiursa with their mother around was a bad idea. He also knew he shouldn¡¯t move from this spot, lest he earn himself suspicion.

    After some more Tackles, which looked to do nothing to one another, some Scratches, and even some cute looking Licks. He could see that they weren¡¯t being so nice to one another anymore.

    And they drew closer.

    Ethan kept flicking his eyes toward the Ursaring, but she didn¡¯t seem to care.

    Their little squabble escalated until they were standing just a few feet away from him, their voices and grunts growing louder and more intense. Ethan was extremely nervous and didn''t want to make any sudden movements. If he did, he was afraid their mother would strike him down.

    Soon, one of them pinned its sibling and kept licking its face repeatedly despite the mewls of the other. It cried, and big blobby tears materialized and strolled down its cheeks. The one pinning it, faltered and started to let go, only to be whacked upside the head with a darkened fist. Payback, he guessed.

    The Teddiursa who had been crying with Fake Tears pushed off the dazed one and then made his escape¡­ directly into Ethan¡¯s knees. The Teddiursa rocked back and fell on its butt before blinking and looking up at him.

    As Ethen stared down at the Teddiursa who had run into him. Fear rooted him in place as he saw the looming shadow forming overtop him.

    ¡°Ursaring. Urrrs.¡±

    It didn¡¯t sound unfriendly, it wasn¡¯t a roar, but it was a reminder. Most definitely a reminder.

    He tore his gaze away from the confused teddy bear and looked up at the Ursaring who stood next to him. She didn¡¯t look mad, but she pointed at the Teddiursa. ¡°Ursaring. Urrrs.¡±

    Is it trying to talk to me?

    ¡°Uhh. Hello. You¡­ have wonderful children?¡±

    Ursaring rolled her eyes, reached out, and ever so gently pushed Ethan forward with her enormous paws. Ethan stumbled forward onto his knees and was now face to face with both of the Teddiursa, who stared at him with tilted, adorable, and curious heads.

    One of them walked forward and patted around his face with its stubby arm. It was soft, like that of a teddy bear and its eyes were almost a solid black. It had little nubs for fingers, which patted around his cheek before it stopped and turned toward its sibling.

    Its sibling walked up and did the same. Then, it felt around his tattered, hole ridden, white collared shirt and ripped cargo pants. It sniffed, and then reached into his pocket and found a berry, which it quickly ate with relish.

    Ethan wasn¡¯t sure what to do, but piss his pants was quickly climbing the list, if his fear was anything to go by.

    ¡°Ursa¡±

    Ethan looked up again, and saw the Ursaring nodding towards her children.

    ¡°Can I touch them?¡±

    Ursaring nodded and plopped down onto the ground right where she stood. Dust and dirt blew out in a wave from the force and it gently knocked the two, now laughing, Teddiursa backwards onto their backs.

    Ethan, with a thudding heart gently reached forward and helped them up by grabbing their stubby arms. They looked at him with smiles and he quickly patted their heads when he had the chance. Just like their arms, they were soft and fluffy. It didn¡¯t make their mother any less scary though.

    ¡°You two are little rabble rousers, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    Ursaring let out a mocking huff in obvious agreement, causing the two Teddiursa to laugh. They quickly started playing and tackling each other again, this time without moves, much to the relief of Ethan.

    As he watched them play, mere feet in front of him, he spoke to the Ursaring. ¡°You know, I thought you¡¯d be mad. I thought you¡¯d kill me for them getting close. Even I know not to mess with an Ursaring and her cubs.¡±

    ¡°Ursa.¡± The Ursaring nodded, but then pointed off at the berry trees all around. After that, she softly jabbed him in the chest.

    ¡°You let them near because they eat my berries?¡±

    Ursaring nodded and continued to watch her children play.

    No longer as afraid as he once was, he decided if he was going to have guests, that he should be a proper host. ¡°You guys want some water? I got some inside my home.¡±

    Both Teddiursa immediately stopped playing and rushed into his house without a single word. Ursaring groaned and stood up, causing a shadow to loom over him once more. She wandered up and pulled the vines aside, peeking into his home. Once happy with what she saw, she came over and plopped down once again in the same spot.

    Ethan tapped his fingers nervously on his knees as he sat there, next to a Pokemon that could end him with a casual swipe of her paw. He didn¡¯t know what to talk about. He had only ever chatted with a few Pokemon before, but they were all little and appeared harmless. Of course, they could, but they never hurt him before. Thinking that this Ursaring must be older, to have children of her own, he asked some questions. ¡°Do you know where any other humans are?¡±

    Ursaring nodded and gestured off into the forest.

    ¡°The forest as a whole? Like, they wander through it?¡±

    Ursaring nodded again and huffed.

    ¡°Do¡ªDo you know where they come from? Is there a town or city nearby?¡±

    A negative shake of the head was the response.

    Ethan sat there, debating whether he could ask a favor of a powerful pokemon. She was¡­ nice. This was probably the furthest thing to normal, but it was the current status quo.

    ¡°If you ever find a human out there wandering about¡­ can you tell them I¡¯m here? That I need help? I¡¯ve been out here for months and, to be honest, I have no clue where I am.¡±

    Ursaring turned away from watching his vine doorway to look him in the eyes. Time seemed to stand still. Her gaze pierced his very soul and eventually, she frowned with sadness. She gave a slow nod.

    Relief flooded through his being as the affirmation. He wouldn¡¯t be stuck here forever¡­ He would just need to wait and then someday, someone will come for him¡­

    ¡°Ursar.¡±

    At the call, the two, now wet, Teddiursa jumped through his vine door. Ursaring stood with a sigh and patted Ethans head. She waved towards her children, then wandered off toward the surrounding forests once more.

    Ethan waved as they left, and the two Teddiursa waved back with excited hands. The Ursaring gave him a nod, before entering the treeline.

    Soon, someone would come. They would arrive, see his situation, and help him find civilization. Until then¡­ He¡¯d just keep doing what he¡¯s doing.

 Chapter 2

    Three months later.

    ¡°I think that¡¯s all I''ll plant. I think the Oddish and Hoppip want to keep that field empty.¡±

    Ethan wiped his brow as he inspected the lines of berry trees. At the moment, he estimated he had several hundred of them by now, and if he planted anymore, the surplus he would have would just be wasteful. He already fed all the nearby Pokemon until their bellies nearly burst, and he¡¯d actually managed to collect a stockpile of sorted berries in his upgraded shelter.

    ¡°Pachi?¡±

    With a nod and absent throw, Ethan lobbed a berry into the air. Pachirisu, shocked and unwilling to let the opportunity for a free berry escape, coated itself in white energy and shot off his shoulder. A beautiful textbook display of Quick Attack.

    The Ursaring and Teddiursa came by every few weeks, but so far they hadn¡¯t stumbled across any humans out in the forest. Ethan hoped that it would be a common occurrence, but apparently that wasn¡¯t the case. He tried to get the Ursaring to estimate how often she runs across them, but she didn¡¯t seem to have the same concept of time. They probably don¡¯t count their days being wild Pokemon and all that.

    Unlike the Ursaring, Pachirisu was a nearly daily occurrence. So much so, that out of boredom and wanting to live out his childhood dream of being a Pokemon trainer, he had begun teaching it some moves. Unbeknownst to him, apparently Pachirisu had already learned the move Dig from helping with digging holes for his trees. That was a surprise, given that he didn¡¯t even know Pachirisu as a Pokemon could even learn Dig.

    So far, he taught Pachirisu Dig, Swift, Mud-Slap, Quick Attack, and Seed Bomb. With Seed Bomb and Dig being the two biggest surprises. To teach Pachirisu the moves, he normally just made up games for it to play with him. Swift was the most difficult to teach, but explaining the stars in the sky had helped the little rodent a bit. Explaining that if he wanted, he could throw mini stars at his foes really made Pachirisu try.

    He¡¯d taught some of the Oddish some moves too, discovering in the process that they actually were listening to him when he talked. The first one being Growth. Turns out, that they don¡¯t have to use the move on themselves, which was a great benefit. He had them practice using the moves on his trees, which caused them to grow berries a tad quicker, and sped up their¡­ well, growth.

    After that, he taught a few of them Sunny Day. Again, mostly for his own benefit for growing his trees, but they also loved to soak up the sun. It was a win-win all around, and they never voiced any complaints. Of course, that meant Rain Dance was also a move he tried to teach, but they were still in the process of that one. He thought that they were close, but he didn¡¯t know for sure.

    The Hoppip that lived near him didn¡¯t seem interested in learning any moves, so he let them be. They didn¡¯t really do much from what he could tell. Normally they just flitted about the grass and what few flowers were there.

    ¡°Pachirisu!¡±

    Blinking away his thoughts, he looked over and watched as Pachirisu sauntered off into the forest once more. He¡¯d be back again tomorrow, he was sure of it.

    Back at his new and improved shelter, which was now half of a completed log cabin, Ethan splashed his face, washed his hands, and guzzled down some water from his giant bowl before going off into the still cleared part of his meadow to inspect the surroundings. He had started clearing away the tall grass, trimming it short with a sharp rock he found, but by the time he actually cleared most of it, the far end had already started growing back. It was a hassle, but he¡¯d gotten it down to ¡®mowing the lawn¡¯ every few days, and today was one of those days.

    Along the way, he picked a few of the berries that Hoppip and Oddish liked and passed them out along the Pokemon. To his surprise, one of the Hoppip was now different from the day before. Instead of the normal pink floating Pokemon, in its place, an ovalish green one with large floppy ears and a yellow flower on top of its head floated in its usual place. He walked up to the newly evolved Skiploom, and tossed it a few extra berries.

    ¡°You evolved! Congratulations! You can have some extra today!¡±

    ¡°Ploom!¡± It cheered while spinning in a circle. In its mouth, it gnawed on a berry and had extras in each of its little nubby hands.

    Off behind him, a sound of blasting air caught his attention. Above the Oddish, a light pink spray of particles wafted and suffused the air. Right after the first, the rest of the handful of Oddish each launched their respective bursts of particles. Taking a deep breath, the air smelled like flowers and perfume. Ethan smiled, it was Sweet Scent.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯ll leave you all be. Congratulations once again.¡± Ethan patted the Skiploom once before leaving for the far end of his meadow. Maybe he¡¯d make it a pasture so that Pokemon could stay and eat?

    ¡ª------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    One Month Later.

    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    ¡°As always, thanks so much.¡± Ethan said with a giant smile as the rain suddenly stopped.

    ¡°Oddish!¡±

    ¡°Odd!¡±

    ¡°Oddiiii¡±

    ¡°Oddishhhh¡±

    He had finally taught his Oddish neighbors Rain Dance, and it really has been a blessing. No longer did he need to make the trip down to the small stream near his clearing to fill his giant stone bowl! Now, he could drag it outside and let the Oddish fill it up with rain! These Oddish were quite useful!

    As he slowly and awkwardly maneuvered a giant stone bowl inside his almost completed log cabin, a small, unknown voice spoke up from the side.

    ¡°Ral?¡±

    Twisting his head, Ethan looked down, and down, and down, to spot the barely foot tall greenish head poking out of the bushes at him. On top of the small orb-like head, two pinkish ridges rose from the center. It was a tiny humanoid Pokemon, and from beneath the green bulb of what looked to be hair, a tiny blue eye peered at him with curiosity. It raised a tiny hand and tapped its chin before waddling outwards toward him. It was cute. Its body looked to be wearing a tiny toga, or perhaps a dress? It didn¡¯t matter, he knew this Pokemon.

    ¡°Well, hello there. What brings you to my little part of the woods little Ralts?¡±

    The Ralts looked around his little clearing and trees, tapping its chin in question. ¡°Ral?¡±

    Ethan looked around to see what it was looking at, but it looked to be gazing about.

    ¡°Oddiiiiiiiish, Odd, Odd. Odddd.¡± One of the Oddish jabbered on, and soon, the two Pokemon were having a conversation.

    ¡°Ralts Ra, Ral?¡±

    Oddddd, Oddish Odd, dish dish.¡±

    Raltss Ralt Ralllll.¡±

    As long as he¡¯d been around here, he hadn¡¯t really seen any Pokemon talk to each other. Sure, they would occasionally say their names once in a while, and one would say theirs back, but nothing like this. The only other example he had was when mother Ursaring called her children to leave, and there was no talking back when momma Ursaring said they were leaving.

    A puff of Sweet Scent filled the clearing, and of course, the rest of the Oddish joined in with puffs of their own. They seemed to like doing that, and it smelled nice, so Ethan never complained.

    Ethan let the two Pokemon talk and continued to maneuver his bowl back into his house. It would take awhile, but it was still better to do this for a few minutes than to take a few hours going back and forth to the tiny stream.

    When he returned, some more Pokemon stood alongside the Oddish and Ralts. One much much larger than the others, but graceful as can be.

    A Gardevoir stood about his height and gazed about the clearing. Its smooth gossamer dress-like body fluttered in the wind and its eyes looked on in cheer when inspecting the trees. By its side, a smaller ballerina spun in place on a pointed foot¡ªA Kirlia.

    ¡°Like what you see?¡± Ethan asked the psychic fairies as they all turned towards him. He gave them a smile and gestured toward his trees. ¡°Help yourselves. I have more than enough.¡±

    The Ralts eagerly waddled foward and after tripping over its little toga dress, blinked out of existence. Ethan''s eyes widened in surprise, but heard the ruffling of leaves and watched as the Ralts climbed down the tree with an armful of berries in hand.

    The Kirilia gracefully spun in circles as it did a ballet dance across the ground, eventually reaching the same tree and having a glowing purple berry pluck itself from the tree. It slowly glided down into her open arms.

    ¡°Thank you.¡±

    A mature woman''s voice rang in his head, causing him to jerk in surprise.

    Gardevoir covered its mouth and gently laughed. ¡°First time?¡±

    Ethan nodded dumbly. ¡°First time I¡¯ve spoken to anybody that I could understand in¡­ a long time.¡±

    Gardevoir nodded and walked over to get some berries of her own. Once she was done, she spoke in his mind again. ¡°Humans are rare out here. They know better than to come so far out. Sometimes, the green ones come, just to check if everything is okay. They¡¯re kind. Just like you.¡±

    Ethan watched as everyone partook in his berries and shrugged. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t necessarily call it kindness, more like I can¡¯t stop any of you from taking it. Might as well offer it if that¡¯s the case.¡±

    ¡°No. You¡¯re kind. The Oddish say so. They say you teach them a lot of new things. Teach them moves to help them, feed them willingly, talk to them. Also, I see your kindness. I see your loneliness, I see your fear, I see your hope. I see all of your emotions. Everything will be okay. They will come soon.¡±

    Ethan didn¡¯t know what came over him, but he started to tear up. ¡°Th¡ªThanks for the kind words.¡± He joked.

    Gardevoir just watched him for a moment, before she ushered her¡­ family toward her. ¡°Goodbye kind one.¡±

    ¡°Wai¡ª¡±

    Then with an instantaneous blink, they were all gone. Ethan¡¯s hand held outwards in hope of more conversation. When it dropped, his throat tightened, then he broke down... again.

    He sobbed on the ground and cried until he could cry no more. He had nobody. No family, no social interactions, no friends, no real home¡­ nothing. Nobody to share his struggles with, nobody to motivate him, just nobody. He was nobody to the world. The world didn¡¯t even know he was here¡­ and he¡¯d been here for so long.

    When he was finished with his pity party, Ethan looked down at his clothes. His white collared shirt was basically ruined at this point. His cargo pants well on their way to being nothing but scraps. He¡¯d lost his shoes months ago, and his socks were already gone.

    All he had were his berries, and the nearby Pokemon. That was it. That was it until he either wandered through the forest aimlessly for help, or struggled out here until help came.

    He wasn¡¯t sure if he was going to make it.

 Chapter 3

    Elise had definitely had weirder days. It comes with being a Pokemon Ranger and all the fun and excitement that brings, but having an Ursaring and her two cubs wave you down for a chat? That was new. It was also worrying.

    There were very few situations in which a wild Ursaring with two cubs needed help, and she could not think of any that were good. Thankfully, if someone had stolen one of her cubs, the whole forest would have known by now. So at least not that severe.

    With caution, she leaned up against a tree as her partner, Umbreon, talked with the Ursaring. She would not move from this spot until given permission to do so. She knew the rules, and the Ursaring knew them too.

    This wasn¡¯t the first time she¡¯d traveled through the Ursaring¡¯s territory, and it would not be the last. Part of her job was to check in with all the territory leaders and check on the migratory patterns of the Pokemon within, or around, Eterna Forest. Which, to be fair, was not as difficult as many made it out to be. Once a year, an inspection was required on the territory leaders, just to make sure if any of them had gotten themselves killed, or a new big bad Pokemon had come and bullied them out. It was rare, but it did happen. Very rarely, they would be a problem that the Pokemon themselves needed help with. Most of the time, they were simple things. If a drought happens and they lose their water source, they¡¯d find help. An Ursaring wouldn¡¯t do that though.

    ¡°Umbri¡± Umbreon nodded and sauntered back toward her, as the Ursaring growled to collect her cubs and go on the move.

    ¡°Are we supposed to follow?¡± Elise asked her partner.

    She got a simple nod and a gentle headbutt to her side with the attempt to hurry her along. ¡°Well, okay then. How bad is it?¡±

    Umbreon raised one of her paws, and then see-sawed it back and forth.

    ¡°Okay, not that bad then. Backup needed?¡± She asked.

    A shake of the head and more gentle headbutts to get her moving was the response. That was enough questions. Her partner knew what risks were, and if she didn¡¯t think they needed backup, then they didn¡¯t need backup.

    Elise followed the Ursaring and her cubs at a safe distance, stopping when they stopped, and always being in sight. After a few hours, they were deep within the confines of Eterna Forest, and on the outskirts of Ursaring''s territory. Soon, they would cross into the fairy¡¯s grove, and this Ursaring knew better than to trespass, so they should be near their destination.

    Suddenly, both the Teddiursa cheered their name and sprinted forward ahead of their mother. Ursaring shook her head in exasperation but didn¡¯t call them back. Very curious behavior.

    Within moments, Elise heard a man''s voice shouting from up ahead. ¡°Well then! Look who we have here! Come to steal some of my berries again?¡±

    ¡°Teddi!¡±

    ¡°Ted!¡±

    ¡°Ursa, Ursaring.¡±

    Elise looked to the Ursaring, who held a hand out, gesturing for her to take the lead. Elise looked to her partner Umbreon, who looked at her calmly, and then walked forward.

    Walking right by a fully grown Ursaring was a test of her resolve, but if push came to shove, Umbreon could hold her own. She might not win, but she could stall Ursaring for a long, long time.

    As she passed the Ursaring, she came into a small clearing and to a sight she never expected. Neat rows of hundreds of berry trees of all types and flavors lined up, surprising her. It was a treasure trove of food for any kind of Pokemon. There were Orans, Leppas, Sitris¡¯, Chestos, Choples, Figys, Grepas, Hondews, Lums, Occa¡¯s¡­ the list went on and on. Each tree brimmed with plentiful ripe berries, and many of them had fallen around the base of the trees.

    In one of the isles between the trees Elise saw what she was brought here for. A man sat on the ground with both of the Teddiursa climbing over him and sniffing for berries. He held a grin as one of the Teddiursa shuffled through his torn and ragged pockets and found its prize with a squeal.

    This man had seen much better days. He was obviously severely malnourished, and if his unkempt beard and long wild hair was any indication, he¡¯d been out here for a long time.

    ¡°Ursaring!¡± Ursaring shouted her name loudly, which drew the look of the man. Elise¡¯s heart almost broke when their eyes met, as the man began sobbing with relief nearly oozing out of every pore in his body.

    He must have gotten lost and found himself stuck here for... a long time.

    Ursaring nudged her forward with a gentle paw slap, which earned it a growl from her Umbreon, but it didn¡¯t seem to care. It kept its eyes fixed on the man, while two confused Teddiursa attempted to console him as he cried on the ground.

    She¡¯d been a part of search and rescue before, it wasn¡¯t uncommon at all. Maybe once a month these types of cases would happen, but this man wasn¡¯t stuck out here for a week, or even a month. He¡¯d been out here for many, many months, judging by the trees he¡¯d grown.

    With confidence, she strode forward as Ursaring called her cubs back. They ran right by her, and that was probably the closest that she¡¯d ever get to them ever again. The man had calmed down, but he was in a heap on the ground as he took shuddering breaths.

    Elise kneeled in front of him and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. ¡°I am Ranger Elise from Eterna City. You¡¯re going to be okay.¡±

    ¡ª--------------------------------------------------------------------

    ¡°...you¡¯re going to be okay.¡±

    Ethan had never thought this day would come. It''s been nearly a year since he arrived, and for the first time¡­ he could talk to a human. He¡¯d long since finished his cabin, cleared the meadow, and done all he could. There was nothing left for him here, except for the Pokemon.

    The dark-haired Pokemon Ranger in front of him looked stoic, but he could see that she was also concerned, which, to be fair, was probably justified. He didn¡¯t know exactly what he looked like, but he¡¯d seen glimpses of his reflection in his stone bowl of water. He¡­ stopped looking after a certain point in time. It made things worse.

    ¡°This is my partner, Umbreon. She will not harm you, but I¡¯m going to need to ask you some questions. Is that okay?¡± Elise asked, her hand still on his shoulder.

    Ethan looked at the black mix of a cat and dog off to the side. It had golden rings on its body which glowed faintly, even in the light of day. It gave him a smile and laid down on the ground, resting its head on its paws. ¡°Ye-Yes, please go ahead. Ask whatever you need.¡±

    ¡°Okay. First, what¡¯s your name? Do you have any identification?¡±

    Ahh¡­ I forgot about this part¡­ Ethan thought.

    He did have identification, but it was his NYC driver''s license. In no way shape or form, that was going to work here. He still had his wallet somewhere in his cabin, but he had no use for it for, well, nearly a year.

    ¡°Ethan. Ethan Reed. I don¡¯t¡­¡±

    Elise waved her hand reassuring him. ¡°That¡¯s fine. Your name will be enough. How long have you been out here, Ethan?¡±

    Ethen took another shuddering breath and clenched his eyes closed. ¡°About a year.¡±

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    The sharp intake of breath from Elise made him somehow feel worse. He knew this situation wasn¡¯t his fault, but maybe if he had risked a trek toward civilization it would have been different. He wouldn¡¯t have had to wait for help. He would have¡ª

    ¡°That¡¯s a very long time, and you did well to live that long, Ethan. Did you get lost? There is no shame if you did.¡±

    Ethan was sure that if he told her the truth, that she would think he was insane. He would think he was insane if he were in her shoes. But, he doesn¡¯t even know where he is. Not just the general area. He doesn¡¯t even know what region he is in. What was he to do? Lie? He could, but that would just create trouble later on when she discovered he didn¡¯t have any papers. He needed to just¡­ tell the truth. Just, when he knew they would take it seriously.

    ¡°You will not believe me. You¡¯re going to think I am insane, but I am still going to tell you the truth. Is there Pokemon who can tell if you¡¯re lying or read memories? I would like one of those.¡±

    Elise frowned and tightened her grip on his shoulder. ¡°There are Pokemon able to read your mind and search your memories, but that is a very serious avenue to take. You can tell me. I¡¯m not going to think you¡¯re insane.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d like to have a Pokemon read my memories. Then, they can verify that I¡¯m telling the truth. When you search my name in whatever database you have, you¡¯re not going to find any mention of me. I don¡¯t even know where I am.¡±

    Elise¡¯s frown deepened, and her voice turned serious for a moment. ¡°Are you a criminal, Ethan?¡±

    ¡°No. I''m just lost and out of my depth. Use your radio and ask someone to search for me. In the meantime, I¡¯ll sit here.¡± He responded instantly.

    Elise looked at her Umbreon and they had a silent conversation. When it was over, she stood and gripped the walkie-talkie attached to her shoulder. She walked away, toward his cabin and away from the Ursaring and her cubs as she spoke with whoever was on the other side.

    Umbreon stayed where it was.

    They both sat there for a while, before Ethan broke the ice. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen an Umbreon before. Lots of Pokemon passed through here, but nothing like you. You see these trees? I planted them all, and Pokemon came and went. All eating their fill.¡±

    Umbreon didn¡¯t blink, smile, or make any other reaction. It laid there and stared at him. He fidgeted a bit and figured maybe he should introduce it to the others? No, he probably should just stay here.

    ¡°Teddi?¡±

    Looking up, he found one of the Teddiursa was gazing back and forth between Umbreon and him. He smiled and patted his lap, which caused it to smile and tumble over to him. It sat in his lap and he rubbed its head as he growled in contentment.

    When Ethan looked to the Umbreon again, it was looking over its shoulder toward the Ursaring, who stared daggers at the Umbreon with muscles tensed. If it made any hostile move, it was going to have a fight for its life.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think a Pokemon Ranger¡¯s Pokemon would do anything¡­ but, just to make sure. Do nothing. Umbreons like you are strong indeed, but it would demolish you. These little guys pack a punch too. I¡¯ve seen them fight.¡±

    Umbreon, without moving its gaze away from the Ursaring, scoffed.

    The thudding of footsteps approached from behind, and Elise spoke up as she passed him by. ¡°Okay, you weren¡¯t found in any databases. Do you have any form of ID so I can confirm that the name you gave me is legitimate? Anything, at all?¡±

    Ethan nodded slowly, and gestured for the Teddiursa to run back to its mother. It did so, and Ethan got up from the ground. ¡°You don¡¯t get to ask questions about where it''s from until that mind reading Pokemon gets my story. Okay?¡±

    ¡°Deal. I have some other rangers coming over here to help with getting you to safety. We¡¯ll take you to Eterna City.¡±

    Ethan led them to his cabin and noticed that someone had moved the door. It was a weird habit he had, but once he had an actual door instead of vines, he had gotten used to rubbing the lines it made through the dirt smooth with his feet. Right now, there were lines. Also, the Oddish who lived right by his house kept their eyes on Elise with judgment.

    Elise had entered his cabin.

    ¡°Did you find what you were looking for inside my home?¡± Ethan asked, as they paused right outside the door.

    ¡°I was just checking to make sure there was nothing in there to harm me or my Pokemon.¡±

    Ethan stared at her in a moment of awkward silence. ¡°Wait outside.¡±

    She gripped his arm as he tried to turn, and had her other hand next to her belt, where Ethan could see six Pokeballs. The first he¡¯d ever seen, and he was being threatened by them.

    ¡°Where are your Pokeballs or Pokemon.¡± She asked, tersely.

    ¡°I don¡¯t have any.¡±

    In her shock, Elise¡¯s grip slackened, and Ethan shrugged her off. Umbreon growled and put herself in between them. He looked back and forth between them in disbelief. ¡°Am I really that untrustworthy? I think if an Ursaring lets me hold her cub, I¡¯m pretty trusting. You broke into my hom¡ªcabin. You broke into my cabin and I¡¯m the one that¡¯s untrustworthy? Fine. Follow me inside. I don¡¯t care. You¡¯ve seen everything already, anyway. The Oddish saw you do it, by the way.¡±

    Elise eased up and Umbreon backed down. He watched as she flicked her eyes toward the nearby Oddish. They all looked away at the exact same time, acting completely innocent.

    After rummaging around in his cabin under the watchful gaze of Elise and Umbreon, he eventually found his wallet tucked away in between some of his stashes of berries. He opened it and made sure that everything was still there, then took out his ID and handed it over.

    Elise looked back and forth between the picture taken and Ethan, then flipped the ID back and forth in her hands, trying to make sense of it. Ethan helpfully told her what half of the numbers meant. ¡°It has my address, date of birth, expiration date¡­ plenty of information. On the back, you can even see that I''m an organ donor.¡±

    Next, Ethan pulled out his debit card, credit card, and some bills. ¡°These also have my name, and this is money. I¡¯m not from here. And, as I¡¯ve said. You won¡¯t believe me if I told you so I really need that mind reading Pokemon.¡±

    Elise frowned as she sorted through his wallet. When she was finished, she handed everything back to him. ¡°Wait here.¡±

    She stormed outside, but Ethan followed her, much to the displeasure of Umbreon. ¡°I¡¯ll wait next to the Oddish. Go do your thing.¡±

    For the next few minutes, he watched as Elise had a heated discussion with someone over the walkie-talkie. Umbreon was next to him, once again, and never took its eyes off of him.

    ¡°I¡¯m from another world.¡±

    He slowly turned his gaze to Umbreon, who somehow raised a singular eyebrow in response. He stared forward again and snorted. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s about what I expected.¡±

    After another ten minutes passed, Umbreon¡¯s ears perked up, and it looked up at the sky. Ethan followed suit and watched as two enormous birds circled about in the air. After a few seconds, each dived and landed in front of his cabin. A large plume of dust and dirt flew everywhere, and Ethan had to cover his eyes to shield them, before he finally got to see what these Pokemon were.

    The first thing he noticed were the two passengers in similar attire to Elise. So, these were probably her reinforcements. The Pokemon themselves were familiar, but this was his first time seeing them in real life.

    The first was a dark feathered bird with a puffy white tuft of fur attached to its chest. It looked to be wearing a witch''s hat, and its keen eyes scanned the surroundings with acute awareness. It was a Honchkrow. This was a Pokemon he actually knew a decent amount of information on, as it was one of his favorites when he played the games. Moxie was a very useful ability for a novice to beat the game with.

    The other one was slightly smaller, but still one of the biggest birds he¡¯d ever seen. While it''s gray, black, and white feathers and enormous taloned feet didn¡¯t give away much, the large red pointed mohawk styled feathers atop its head did. It was a Staraptor.

    Each Ranger dismounted from their respective birds and scanned his little clearing with shock and a little bit of awe. That alone made him feel a little better about his situation. If nothing else.

    They, the two male rangers, gave him a simple nod and then met with Elise. He watched them talk animatedly, gesturing towards him repeatedly, before one of them came over and introduced himself.

    ¡°My name is Ranger Roberts, and I have some questions for you, if you don¡¯t mind.¡±

    Ethan nodded. ¡°Go ahead.¡±

    The next few minutes resulted in the exact same manner of what happened with Elise. What is your name? How long have you been here? Can I see your ID?

    After each question, Ethan added on that he wanted a Pokemon that could see his memories and prove that he wasn¡¯t lying or insane. They kept asking about why what he had to say would make them think he was insane, but he refused to answer.

    Eventually, they finally decided to fill him in on some of their information. Elise was the apparent leader in this small group, as she was the one to talk with him. ¡°We want to take you to Eterna City. Specifically, to a Pokemon center. It¡¯s a Pokemon League mandated building, so you can have a Pokemon read your memories there. We cannot do that out here in the wild, as that would be a severe breach of the law.¡±

    That sounded fine and reasonable to Ethan. At this point, he just wanted to have this over and done with. He wanted to see civilization and be a part of society again. He wanted this nightmare to end.

    There was only so much he could handle on his lonesome, and he would admit that he was dangerously close to having a mental breakdown toward the end of his stay. You can only talk to Oddish¡¯s and Hoppip¡¯s so many times before you start to lose your sanity.

    ¡°Where is Eterna City? What Region are we in?¡±

    The question took Elise aback, but she answered regardless. ¡°It¡¯s North-east of here, about twenty minutes away by flight. You¡¯re in Sinnoh.¡±

    With a giant sigh of relief, Ethan released the breath he didn¡¯t know he had held. ¡°Okay. I at least know where that is. Is the champion Cynthia?¡±

    Elise stared at him for a moment, concerned, but nodded her affirmation. ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡±

    ¡°Then let''s be on our way.¡±

 Chapter 4

    As it turns out, a Kadabra is much smaller than Ethan imagined. For some reason, he¡¯d thought that they would be around his height, which was six foot. They were more around the height of a child. Around the upper three to lower four foot range.

    This Kadabra was one of the Pokemon League mandated teleport Pokemon, used by the Rangers in search and rescue. Rangers Roberts had brought it along, and they were in the process of explaining how teleportation would affect him.

    Long story short, it''s about what he would expect. They were telling him that he was going to throw up his berry breakfast. There was apparently no question about that. It would happen on your first time, but if you teleported often, you¡¯d grow accustomed to its effects.

    ¡°...Do you understand?¡± Ranger Roberts asked.

    ¡°Yeah, I understand. Can I say goodbye to the Pokemon before I leave?¡±

    Roberts, an older man around the age of thirty nodded and waved him towards the Oddish and floating Hoppip and Skiploom. ¡°I¡¯ll be right here. Take your time.¡±

    Ethan started with the Oddish, who looked happy that he was being saved. He wasn¡¯t sure if they properly understood the scenario, but they recognised that he seemed relieved. He thanked them, and when he was finished, they all puffed out their sweet scent together in a brilliant sparkle of pink.

    The Hoppip just floated about as they usually did, but the Skiploom gave him a hug¡ªdirectly to his face. He thanked it for its company, and said that he might come back one day.

    ¡°... you can all eat as many berries as you want. If you see him, can you tell Pachirisu that I left, and that I hope we meet again?¡±

    Skiploom bobbed in the air and did a little backflip while fanning its little arms in circles. That looked like a yes to him. ¡°Thanks¡­¡±

    Ethan returned to the three Pokemon Rangers, who all watched on with conflicting expressions and gave them a nod. ¡°I¡¯m ready.¡±

    The Kadabra looked around at everyone near and waited for each of them to say that they were ready to depart. When Ethan gave his approval, Kadabra held up its signature spoon to his forehead and began glowing purple.

    The next second, Ethan felt like he was compressed, blinded by a phantasmagoria of colors, stretched like a noodle, spun around at mach three speed, and then hit in the head with a club. All in a single second.

    When it was over, as he was told, he fell to his knees and vomited what little he had in his stomach all over the grassy ground. As he heaved, Kadabra walked over and patted his back in comfort, which helped a lot. If he had the HM-Cut, he¡¯d pass it along.

    The next thing he noticed were the sounds. In his clearing, the only sounds he heard were the mumbles of Hoppip and Oddish, the leaves rustling in the wind, and the occasional fall of a berry. Now, he heard people chatting all around him, footsteps clacking on cobbled stone, and mechanical sliding doors. Of course, there were loads of Pokemon sounds as well.

    He gazed around to get his bearings and saw Eterna City for the first time. The first thing he noticed was the gawking crowd of bystanders watching his arrival with a mix of pity, shock, and empathy. Past the murmuring crowd, he saw that he was right out front of a Pokemon center. Unlike the games, the Pokemon center was much larger than a single story. This one in particular had four floors, and had its signature red roof with white walls. Flowers were planted around the building in planter pots and right next to the center, a large cleared area filled of dirt squares was setup, and there were a host of people having Pokemon battles within.

    As for the Pokemon he saw around him, there was much more diversity than he imagined. While he couldn¡¯t tell you every single pokemon and what region they were from, he was fairly certain some of the Pokemon around him did not belong in Sinnoh. There were some he recognised, and some he did not.

    For the ones he did indeed know of, he saw a duo of elemental monkeys, a Pansage and Panpour, hugging the knees of their trainer as they stared at him with confusion. One younger girl had a Zigzagoon cradled in her arms, which looked off color. It was black instead of brown. Was that a shiny?

    There were lots of other Pokemon, such as Pidgey, Rattata, Shinx, HootHoot, Maril, and even a Pichu. There was so much variety that it threw him off guard.

    Slowly he stood and signaled that he was okay to the Rangers. Elise took the lead and led him into the Pokemon Center. Inside, people waited in chairs with their Pokemon, some stood in line at the front desk, where several Chansey and normal colored hair nurses helped them with what they needed. Off in the corner, some people sat by computers, talking in a video call, watching videos, or doing research.

    Ethan was led past the Lobby and into the back rooms where he could see various Pokemon getting the help they needed. As he passed a window, he even saw a bright pink head of hair bent down consoling a little yellow sheep. A Mareep if he had to guess, but it was only for a second.

    He was led into a meeting room of some sort, where several other people stood or sat around a large oval table. One was Nurse Joy, who looked nearly identical as they did in the games, if slightly older. Bright pink hair with two looping pigtails in the back, a small nurse''s hat, and adorned in pink and white made up her look. She gave him a gentle smile as their eyes met.

    Next, was a woman in her thirties who Ethan vaguely remembered. She had short black and orange hair, wore a green poncho across her shoulder, had her slim waist exposed with a short cropped t-shirt, and she was very relaxed. She had her back reclined deep into her chair, and had her feet kicked up onto the table, seemingly at ease.

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    Next was an older gentleman in his forties who wore a dark brown trench coat. He looked fairly unassuming, but Ethan was pretty sure he knew who this guy was. He didn¡¯t want to just blurt out his name, but he thought that this might be Agent Looker from the International Police. Why would he be here for a random missing person? He didn¡¯t know, but it certainly made this more serious than he first thought.

    Elise nudged him with an elbow and Ethan realized that he was standing there gawking. Quickly, he moved into a seat next to the woman with the poncho. Elise and Roberts sat down as well, but the third ranger who Ethan had yet to get the name of left the room and went on his way. Probably doing a host of paperwork, if Ethan had to guess.

    Nurse Joy was the first to speak. ¡°Hello. I¡¯m glad to see that you¡¯re safe and sound. After the discussions here, I¡¯d like for you to get a checkup to ensure the health of you and your Pokemon. To my understanding, you¡¯ve been lost in a forest for nearly a year?¡±

    She spoke gently and calmly, but there was a presence to her words. Ethan didn¡¯t think that he had the option to decline. ¡°That¡¯s roughly accurate, but I don¡¯t have any Pokemon. I would like a checkup though.¡±

    Next, the woman in the green poncho spoke. She straightened in her seat, and looked at him closely for a few seconds. Ethan just stared back, mildly off put by the stare.

    ¡°You have no idea who I am, do you?¡± She asked.

    Ethan just nodded and looked around at the others for any help. The woman sighed and introduced herself. ¡°I¡¯m Gardenia, Eterna City Gym Leader.¡±

    ¡°Okay? It¡¯s nice to meet you..?¡± Ethan said. Yeah, sure, he could probably remember some of her Pokemon, but he didn¡¯t know anything about Gardenia from the games. He normally just beat the gym then went about collecting more Pokemon.

    Gardenia shrugged and relaxed back into her seat, seemingly done with her introduction.

    Next, the man who Ethan assumed was Agent Looker spoke. ¡°I¡¯m here as a member from InterPol. I¡¯m here to oversee the Psychic mind reading. Please, pretend I''m not here.¡±

    Ethan nodded, this was probably Agent Looker. Maybe saying his name would give him some credence? Or would that make him look more suspect? Well, he didn¡¯t really have anything to lose. ¡°Are you Agent Looker?¡±

    Looker¡¯s look of surprise was genuine, but after that, suspicion through glinting eyes was all that remained. He never answered back.

    Ethan looked around the quiet room, and decided he should start. ¡°Would you like me to explain how and why I got lost first? Or would you like the Psychic Pokemon to read my memories, then have me explain?¡±

    Elise, who sat a few seats away from him leaned against the table. ¡°Why don¡¯t you explain first, then we can verify from the Pokemon.¡±

    Ethan took a shuddering breath and took a second to mentally prepare himself. ¡°As I said, you all would think I am insane if I didn''t get verification. The truth is¡­ I¡¯m not from this world. One day, I was on my way home from work, and I appeared in that clearing in Eterna Forest without any notice. While I know you¡¯re probably thinking, ¡®Oh, it¡¯s probably just a random teleport incident¡¯ or something¡­ There was no Pokemon where I was from, at least, not in real life.¡±

    Ethan grabbed his wallet from his pocket and slid it to Gardenia, who was now sitting up in her seat, intently focused on the conversation. ¡°That¡¯s my wallet from before I arrived. You can look through it, and you will see that everything is going to be foreign. Feel free to pass it around.¡±

    Gardenia took a moment to inspect his ID, cards, and the few dollars he had in bills, before she slid it to Nurse Joy, who did the same.

    ¡°I know that this sounds insane, that¡¯s why I requested mind reading. Pokemon didn¡¯t exist in real life, but it did exist as a¡ªa form of entertainment. An electronic video game, a TV show, a card game... While I was never an expert, I at least know some information. That¡¯s why I am familiar with some of the Pokemon and people.¡± Ethan finished by looking at Agent Looker, who stared down at the table in deep thought.

    Nobody spoke up after a few seconds, and Elise and Roberts just had a pitying frown on their faces. Ethan¡¯s chest tightened. They didn¡¯t believe him. ¡°Feel free to ask any questions. I¡¯ll try to answer to the best of my ability.¡±

    Nurse Joy was the first to speak, after she passed his wallet down towards Looker. ¡°Mr. Reed, You¡¯ve had a harrowing experience¡­¡± She started, but Looker interrupted her.

    ¡°What do you know of Agent Looker?¡±

    Everyone¡¯s head swiveled towards him, but his eyes were placed solely on Ethan. ¡°I know that they are one of the main agents for the International Police, and that they have tracked down numerous villainous terrorists and gangs. They¡¯ve rooted out Team Galactic¡­ and some others. They have a Croagunk and a Growlithe. They¡¯re someone that I know can be trusted.¡±

    Looker didn¡¯t make any movements or show any emotion, but he asked some more questions. ¡°In the Pokemon that you know, is there a main character?¡±

    As it looked like he was getting somewhere, Ethan quickly nodded. ¡°Yes! It depends which form of entertainment you liked, but the main protagonist is Ash Ketchum. He¡¯s from Pallet town in Kanto.¡±

    ¡°Can you list any of his achievements?¡± Looker asked.

    ¡°I can name a few, but there¡¯s way too many for me to remember. Also, I don¡¯t know if the entertainment from my world really translated to this one, one-for-one. He¡¯s been involved with a lot of legenda¡ª¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s enough. We¡¯ll start the mind reading.¡± Looker reached toward his hip and tossed out a plain, but very clean standard Pokeball. Out of it, came a five foot tall Alakazam. It instantly looked to Looker and they had a silent conversation.

    Once they were done, Looker looked to Ranger Elise and Ranger Roberts. ¡°I¡¯d like to ask for you two to leave.¡± His tone brokered no arguments, so they both shared a startled look with one another, before darting away. Elise gave him a final worrying glance before she left.

    Alakazam walked towards him, and Ethan turned his chair around to face the Pokemon fully. Just like with the Gardevior from months past, the Pokemon spoke in his mind. Its voice was old, that of a wizened wizard. ¡°Do you consent to my Psychic influence? Everyone in this room will be linked, and they will all see your memories. If at any point you wish for me to stop, simply will it and I will do so. As you are requesting this service and not required by law to undergo this procedure, you still have your rights. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise. May I proceed?¡±

    Ethan took a deep breath. ¡°Will this be painful?¡±

    Alakazam smiled, and comforted him in the tone of an elderly grandpa. ¡°No. It might actually be helpful. Some things are not easily forgotten completely.¡±

    ¡°I give you my consent.¡± Ethan gripped the armrest of his chair and prepared for the worst.

 Chapter 5

    The first thing that Ethan noticed was a building pressure in his skull, but the wizened voice of Alakazam gave him reassurance. ¡°Let it happen. Do not fight back.¡±

    Ethan tried to ignore the building pressure, and soon, it faded into an ever present¡­ Well, presence. Then, almost as if watching a movie, Ethan began to see his life play out before him, just in reverse.

    Ethan saw through his own eyes, heard his own thoughts, and felt his own actions. From picking berries, to playing with the Teddiursa cubs, to teaching Pachirisu moves. He felt his impatience at waiting for help, the loneliness that blanketed him when it was just him, the Oddishes, and Hoppip, and the darker thoughts of having it all end to save him from the suffering.

    He could watch, feel, and remember in fast forwarded time, his mental state throughout the year. As he was watching in reverse, it started off¡­ bad. He knew he wasn¡¯t in a good place, but having it all laid out before him was a punch in the gut. As the months passed by, he could see his emotional state fluctuate back towards ¡®normal.¡¯

    He watched as the Gardevoir family came by and talked to him, how when they left, his heart hurt of loneliness. When the time came to when he first played with the Teddiursa, Ethan could see and feel the happiness, fear, and acceptance of the situation playing out before him. When Pachirisu helped him with digging holes for his trees, he could feel the excitement of being around a friendly Pokemon. He watched the Geodude roll by and help with making his water bowl, the relief of the Pokemon not hurting him and the hard rocky texture of the Pokemon against his hand.

    When it was near the beginning, he could feel the worry, fear, and confusion all over again. Being lost, having an Ursaring bellow at him, trying his best to scrounge berries by his lonesome. Trying and failing to get shelter made¡­

    Then, suddenly he was on the train, content on the ride home, catching Pokemon on his phone.

    The scenes skipped rapidly at this point, almost as if Alakazam was looking for information about Pokemon, and not his own life. He watched snippets of his own life, over and over. When he passed a store and saw advertisements. When he googled on how to beat the elite four. His emotion¡¯s flaring when seeing his favorite Pokemon. His disappointment when he lost.

    Everytime he had ever seen, heard, mentioned, or thought about Pokemon zoomed past him in but mere fleeting moments.

    The times of when he found his first shiny, watching as he waited in line for a game, watching the anime as a child, hearing about pokemon for the first time¡­ then it stopped.

    Ethan felt the pressure on his mind evaporate into nothingness. He opened his eyes and saw Alakazam standing there, shuddering with conflicting emotions. Everyone in the room looked pale, trying to imagine such a world where Pokemon didn¡¯t exist.

    Ethan sat there, thinking about all of the things he was shown that he had forgotten. All the times that he googled what Egg groups were, the movesets of random pokemon, who had what pokemon from the games and the anime, everything.

    Then, a silly thought.

    Ahh! That was a Tympole¡­ the first pokemon I ever saw was a Tympole¡­

    Looker was the first to break the oppressive silence in the meeting room. ¡°Needless to say, I don¡¯t think any of us think you¡¯re insane, Mr Reed. I¡ªI need to go make some calls. Please, excuse me.¡±

    Looker stood and speed walked out of the waiting room, leaving Ethan alone with a sullen Alakazam, worried Nurse Joy, and mock aggravated Gardenia.

    ¡°You beat me and went to go catch Pokemon¡­ Didn¡¯t even bother to learn anything about me. Yeah, you¡¯ll fit right in.¡±

    Ethan couldn¡¯t help but laugh a little at that comment, and as soon as he did, the oppressive atmosphere of the room lessened. Nurse Joy clapped her cheeks and stood with renewed vigor. ¡°Let¡¯s get you that checkup Mr Reed. We might as well do something productive while we¡¯re waiting for news from Agent Looker. Gym Leader Gardenia, what will you do?¡±

    Gardenia stared up at the ceiling in thought, before quickly standing up and shaking her head. ¡°This is above my paygrade. I have to get back to the gym, I probably have a line of challengers waiting for me¡­ Ethan, I¡¯m glad you¡¯re safe, but I''d rather not see you again to have my worldview crumble beneath my feet. Take care of yourself, and catch that Pachirisu. You¡¯ll do good together. Nurse Joy, sign me up for some therapy. I¡¯m going to need it.¡±

    Gardenia patted down her green poncho as she strolled out of the room with her eyes on her Pokeballs. Nurse Joy stood and patted Ethan on the back. ¡°I¡¯ve seen a lot of things in my life, but this one takes the cake. Come, let''s get you all freshened up and get you a proper meal.¡±

    As Nurse Joy led him out of the room, she leaned in and whispered softly, but concernedly in his ear. ¡°While I know you refused to eat wild Pokemon¡­ It is the cycle of life. You need proper nutrition¡­ Will you be willing to eat what I give you? It''s okay if you can¡¯t handle that right now, but you will need to come to terms with it.¡±

    Oh¡­ That¡¯s right, they saw everything.

    ¡°What Pokemon will it be..?¡±

    ¡°Magikarp. It''s what most people find to be a good first step.¡± Nurse Joy answered instantly.

    Ethan swallowed. He had seen some Magikarp in his little stream of water, but he could never bring himself to kill one. When he was bored, he usually just fed them some berries like an old lady feeding carp. Even if he could catch one, and could even deal damage to one with his bare hands, he wasn¡¯t sure if he could bring himself to do it. Not that those were possibilities at the time.

    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

    ¡°Okay.¡± Was his only response.

    Nurse Joy grasped his hand and gave it a good squeeze. ¡°You did good out there Mr Reed. Now, I think you deserve to take a break.¡±

    Nurse Joy led him to an empty room, which looked nearly identical to a room in a hospital. It had a hospital bed, a full bathroom with a shower, and a TV hung up in the corner. ¡°Why don¡¯t you freshen up while I find you some new clothes. I¡¯ll bring you some food, then we can do some tests. Sounds good?¡±

    Ethan absentmindedly nodded, but the thoughts of a warm shower overpowered his control to be polite. He rushed off to take his first hot shower in a year, and heard Nurse Joy¡¯s rueful sigh as he left.

    The first thing he noticed once he entered, killed his enthusiasm. Inside the bathroom, up above the sink, hung a mirror. When he caught sight of himself, he paused.

    On Earth, he wasn¡¯t overweight, but he was most definitely not in what people would call ¡®good shape¡¯. Now, he was lean. Much too lean to be healthy. His clothes were mere tatters from the wear and tear of the wilderness, with blotched stains of berries, dirt, and general grime.

    For the first time since his teens, he had a fully fledged beard. It had knots, and was unkempt, causing him to look homeless. His formerly short cut and styled brown hair draped down the sides of his now narrow face down to his shoulders. Funnily enough, the first thought that came to his mind was Forrest Gump after running for months on end. Hopefully, Nurse Joy would bring him something to shave, and he could find some money to get a haircut.

    He took a long, long shower, and stood under the scorching, scalding heat for well over thirty minutes as he rubbed himself raw with floral scented soap. He only stopped when a knock on the door, and the voice of Nurse Joy asked if everything was alright, and that she was going to have Chansey enter with a fresh set of clothes.

    He hid behind the shower curtains when the large oval shape of Chansey entered and dropped off his new clothes, and only exited once the coast was clear. He was given a blank white shirt with the logo of a pokeball on the front, and a pair of tan cargo shorts. As he didn¡¯t have shoes, he was given a pair of what looked to be used tennis shoes and a fresh pair of white socks.

    After putting everything on, he noticed a lone, old style razor beneath all of the items. He has never used one before, but he figured that if he could make a log cabin with no knowledge, he could learn to shave in a new way.

    Ten minutes later, Ethan exited the bathroom looking like a brand new man. There might have been a slight cut on his chin, but he¡¯d take that over the unkempt beard any day of the week. Next to the bed, Chansey sat in a chair, reading a magazine upside down. Such a silly scene made him chuckle and that alerted Chansey in the process. She patted the hospital bed with one of its short stubbly arms and gestured toward a covered tray¡ªmost likely the promised food.

    It was some vegetables, apple slices, and fried fish¡ªfried Magikarp. About halfway through the process of eating everything but the Magikarp, Nurse Joy arrived with a clipboard and Agent Looker. Nurse Joy flashed him a brilliant smile as Looker stood off to the side of the door.

    ¡°Agent Looker would like to be here to ensure that no harmful, foreign viruses or diseases have transferred over during the process of your¡­ Relocation.¡±

    That was fine, Ethan hadn¡¯t thought about it, but that was a very valid concern.

    ¡°Also, we have to vaccinate you to the standard of a Pokemon Trainer. Which arm is your dominant?¡±

    A few minutes, and a terribly sore shoulder later, Ethan was now in the process of getting his medical history taken, weighed, pricked and prodded, and a full battery of tests. As he expected, he was malnourished, it didn¡¯t take a genius to figure that one out, but he was generally healthy. They were very worried about his mental state, but Nurse Joy wasn¡¯t an expert when it came down to mental health. She only had one piece of advice for him. ¡°Get yourself a Pokemon.¡±

    Looker watched on during all of his medical tests, and Ethan didn¡¯t feel the need to make him leave. He didn¡¯t know much about Looker before, but after having his memories basically re-opened, he knew that Looker was someone he could trust.

    As he laid in the hospital bed, staring at the half eaten remains of his fried Magikarp, Nurse Joy was in a private discussion with him outside the room. He could see her through the window, and given by the sneaky looks she gave him, she was well aware that she was in sight.

    Chansey was still sitting next to his bed, flipping through the pages of the magazine, after Ethan had flipped it rightside up for her.

    When Looker entered the room again, he walked up to the side of the hospital bed and sat down next to his feet. ¡°Ethan, what do you want to do?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    Looker looked off toward the door, where Nurse Joy was peeking through the small glass window, undeterred by being seen. ¡°What do you want to do with your future? Would you like to go on a journey? Many people your age still compete. Would you like to settle down and just live a quiet life? What do you want to do? You have knowledge that others don¡¯t, and while InterPol and the League are reviewing what actionable information you¡¯ve given us, we understand that you¡¯re just a victim of circumstance. We will get your sorted with registration papers, help you get situated, and support you in whatever you want to do.¡±

    After having been here in Sinnoh for about a year, he¡¯s had a lot of time to think about what he wanted to do. In the first few months, he had thought about what every kid dreamed of: Being a Pokemon Trainer and becoming champion. But he knew well enough that if his skills in the games translated here into real life, that wasn¡¯t feasible.

    Then, he had thought about being like one of the NPC¡¯s in the games, the Move Tutors. He could work with Pokemon and teach them new moves to use. It would be much safer than being a Pokemon Trainer, and he was sure that he could make a living doing that.

    Being a Move Tutor was still an option, but he needed some more information regarding how this world actually worked. He¡¯d already seen that knowing only four moves was complete and utterly false, so he¡¯d need to study.

    And right now, being a breeder sounded pretty fun. With the recent Psychic delve, he¡¯d remembered sorting through the lists of egg groups. It was a long time ago, and he wasn¡¯t sure the information was accurate in the real world, but if it was? Then he could be very successful.

    ¡°Do I have to pick now? I think ¡®real life¡¯¡± Ethan air quoted with his hands. ¡°Is going to be different from the games I played. I need to know more to make an educated decision.¡±

    Looker accepted that, almost as if the response was natural. ¡°Take your time, but on behalf of InterPol and the Pokemon League, some of the knowledge you had has already helped. First and foremost, you need a Pokemon.¡±

    Looker saw Ethan¡¯s conflicted face and continued on. ¡°Ninety-nine percent of people have a Pokemon. They are not only for battling. Some may just live with you and keep you company, some may help with your work¡­ They¡¯re a part of life.¡±

    After a moment of silence, Looker gave a good natured chuckle. ¡°You know, I think I remember going through a list of your favorites in your memories. What about an Eevee? They¡¯re very expensive, but we could make it happen.¡±

    Ethan waved him off. ¡°No, no. Thanks for the offer. I¡¯d like to meet them first before I made any decisions. I don¡¯t think I want to be a trainer, so they¡¯d have to be on board for not being the very best.¡±

    ¡°Like no one ever was?¡± Looker asked, a grin on his face.

    Ethan scoffed. ¡°You know what? That was such low hanging fruit that, frankly, I''m disappointed.¡±

 Chapter 6

    It was late at night as Ethan sat in a chair in the front lobby of the Pokemon center, on a computer. He¡¯d spent the last several hours doing research, studying, and comparing what he knew to what was fact.

    First of all, which wasn¡¯t much of a surprise, was that Pokemon didn¡¯t have levels. While they did gain experience battling, it wasn¡¯t as rigid as a system. Wild Pokemon battled each other to grow stronger, but they only killed each other for food, or when someone, or a Pokemon, entered their territory.

    Almost every Pokemon was capable of eating berries, and they typically kept their homes and territories around the wild trees. Unknowingly, Ethan creating his giant berry field probably saved the lives of hundreds or thousands of Pokemon. It also made sense on why the Oddish and Hoppip moved right next to him, as he wasn¡¯t a threat, and food was plentiful.

    Next, egg groups were a thing, but there wasn¡¯t a complete compendium on which pokemon was in each group. From his rushed research, he cross examined his mental list of Pokemon with what was published, and they were the same. Unlike the games though, the female didn¡¯t dictate what species the child would become. It was usually fifty-fifty, but some species were female only, or had very low female percentages throughout their population. Such examples were Pokemon like Jynx, who were strictly female, and Pokemon like Combee, who were a majority male.

    It was a very interesting topic, and he¡¯d have to do more research later on.

    Next, IV¡¯s and EV¡¯s weren¡¯t a thing. Base stats, as he knew them, were kinda there. That¡¯s to say, if an untrained Magikarp, which was considered an extremely weak pokemon, was to go against an untrained Diglett, the Diglett would win the majority of the time. Strictly because of the standard power levels of the Pokemon.

    Pokemon learned through training, which was why some Pokemon actively sought out a human trainer to grow stronger. From what he researched, training was more fluid, and each Trainer had their own methods. Some fighting types were trained in martial arts, while some Psychics focus on speed and the more esoteric mental aspects. It was a really diverse and a hotly debated topic.

    When it came to Move Tutors, they did exist, but not in the way Ethan had imagined. Usually, a person becomes an expert in a given attack, or more rarely a specific type. They would then offer their services to aspiring trainers in return for PokeDollars, the standard currency. Teaching a move took time, and Trainers would leave their Pokemon with the Move Tutor until their training was complete. The more difficult the move, the longer it would take, and the more it would cost.

    What was surprising, was being a generalist Pokemon Trainer or Move Tutor was typically seen as unprofessional. Diverting the majority of your time to a specific type was seen as being more serious, but that wasn¡¯t to say that being a generalist was impossible. The majority of teens who went on their Pokemon journey went the generalist route, but most teens never managed to make it past four badges. That also included the type specialists, which made Ethan laugh at the conflicting evidence. He was sure Champion Cynthia had made sure that generalists were more popular.

    Speaking of teens, Ethan was glad to learn that most children started their journey at the age of sixteen, not the dreadful ten which was in the games. That was good news to him.

    He did look up Ash Ketchum out of curiosity, and found that unlike the games, the boy did indeed age here. Right now, he is nineteen years old and is currently in Hoenn doing the circuit of gyms there. Ethan couldn''t find much detailed information about him, but he assumed that giving out private information wasn¡¯t such a good idea everywhere. At least he learned that he existed, and going by how Looker cut him off earlier, Ash meeting legendaries was a thing.

    As he was done with hardcore research, he wanted to spend some time looking at pictures of some of his favorite Pokemon. Maybe they were larger or smaller than he thought, or maybe they were very odd looking in real life! He wanted to see.

    As he started typing some names of his favorite Pokemon into the computer he heard the clacking of heels approach from behind. A few times throughout the day, Nurse Joy would come over and make sure that he was doing okay and if he needed any help, so this wasn¡¯t an odd occurrence.

    What was odd, was that he didn¡¯t recognise the voice speaking from behind him.

    ¡°Emolga? I haven¡¯t seen too many of those. Are you interested in them?¡± A feminine voice spoke from over his shoulder.

    Turning his head, Ethan saw a woman around his age, which was in the late twenties. She sported long blonde hair and some business casual attire. She looked nice enough, and seemed generally interested in what he was researching. It was nice to talk to people again, so he indulged in this eventful conversation.

    ¡°They¡¯re one of my favorites. I¡¯ve never seen one before, so I was looking to see how they looked. They¡¯re from Unova.¡±

    He looked through some pictures of the flying squirrel Pokemon and found it to be just as cute and adorable as he suspected. Just like in the games, they could hover in the air under their own power, but they could also run along the ground and climb trees like a normal squirrel. He never got to see that in the games.

    ¡°They¡¯re very rare as well.¡± The woman commented.

    He didn¡¯t know that, but he hadn¡¯t been searching for very long. Maybe in the future he¡¯d run into one. ¡°Do you have any favorites?¡±

    The woman smiled. ¡°I like all Pokemon. I couldn¡¯t choose between them.¡±

    Ethan nodded sagely. ¡°A very diplomatic answer. I¡¯m sure your Pokemon appreciated that.¡±

    The woman laughed and chose another topic as Ethan continued searching up some of his favorites. ¡°Do you have any favorite trainers? Gym Leaders? Champions?¡±

    Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

    Ethan paused in his search and thought for a moment. ¡°Well, Professor Oak is up there for sure, if you still count him as a trainer. I think Gym Leader Koga from Kanto and Gym Leader Whitney from Johto are also very underrated. Champion Cynthia being a generalist really makes her stand out, and she¡¯s probably one of the strongest champions if my knowledge is anything to go by. Maybe I¡¯m wrong though. How about you?¡±

    The woman tapped her chin in thought. ¡°I think Elite Four Karen is rising through the ranks quickly. Though, I agree that Cynthia is the strongest. Her Garchomp is unbeatable.¡±

    Ethan nodded along as he looked at some pictures of Sylveons. Another extremely rare pokemon. Why did all of his favorites have to be so rare? ¡°She has a Glaceon and Gastrodon too. At least, I think she does.¡±

    ¡°She does. They¡¯re not used very often, but they¡¯re as strong as the others. They don¡¯t like to battle as much. Only every once in a while.¡±

    The woman stood and stopped looking over his shoulder. ¡°Well, have fun looking up Pokemon. I have to get going.¡±

    ¡°Thanks. It was nice to meet you. Stay safe out there.¡± Ethan gave the woman a wave as she threw on a dark trenchcoat and left the Pokemon Center. In the corner of his eye, he caught Nurse Joy smirking at him from behind the receptionist desk, and he frowned in suspicion. ¡°What¡­?¡±

    ¡°Nothing. Though, It¡¯s pretty late. I think it''s time for you to get some rest.¡± She held her smirk and waved toward the back of the center, where his hospital room was located.

    Having done enough research to figure out that he most definitely didn¡¯t want to become a serious trainer, Ethan decided that this was a good place to stop for today. It was late, and if he had to guess, tomorrow was going to be a long day.

    ¡ª-----------------------

    The next morning, Ethan was laying in his hospital bed eating a breakfast comprising some berry jam, toast, and eggs from an unknown source, when Agent Looker arrived. Looker walked up and tossed a sealed envelope onto his lap.

    Ethan swallowed and placed his toast aside as he grabbed the envelope. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±

    ¡°Your registration. A league official dropped it off last night.¡± He gestured towards the envelope as he took a seat in the chair next to the bed. ¡°Go ahead, open it up.¡±

    Ethan gently opened up the tan envelope and took out the contents. First, was a large pamphlet going over all the benefits and requirements for being a resident of Sinnoh. That was obviously important information, but he¡¯d look over that later. Next was a small rectangular ID. On the top, in giant bold red letters, it read ¡®Pokemon Trainer¡¯. Ethan observed that there was very little information filled in as he looked it over. Well, it at least had his date of birth and given name, but it didn¡¯t have a photo or an address.

    Looking to Looker, Ethan held up the flimsy piece of plastic and waved it about. ¡°Is this actually going to work anywhere? Also, why does it say Pokemon Trainer? I don¡¯t think that¡¯s what I¡¯d like to do.¡±

    Looker looked unbothered. ¡°It¡¯ll work just fine. I had them make a Trainer ID because it works the same way as a normal ID. If you ever choose to run the circuit, then you can. If not, then it¡¯s no big deal.¡±

    After the ID was a medium-sized square wooden case. Flipping it open, Ethan saw the inside was empty. He swept his gaze to Looker, and without having to ask, Looker explained. ¡°Badge case. Again, don¡¯t worry about it.¡±

    There was a phone inside. Pretty cheap looking, if he was being honest, but it was indeed a smart phone and appeared brand new.

    Last inside was a simple folded piece of paper, and a singular Pokeball. After unfolding it, Ethan read through the letter.

    Congratulations, Mr Reed.

    We are delighted to inform you that you have officially become a Pok¨¦mon Trainer. Your passion for Pok¨¦mon and your dedication to learning and growth have brought you to this exciting milestone.

    As you embark on your journey, you''ll encounter countless adventures, form strong bonds with your Pokemon, and discover the wonders of the Sinnoh region. Enclosed you will find your Trainer ID, and your first Pokeball to begin your adventure.

    We wish you the best of luck on your journey. May you achieve great success, make lasting friendships, and become an outstanding Pokemon Trainer.

    Someone scribbled on a small section at the end of the letter.

    Welcome to the world of Pokemon!

    Sincerely,

    Champion Cynthia.

    ¡°Oh, I bet the kids love that.¡± Ethan murmured as he noticed the signature at the bottom. He doubted the champion herself took the time to write out her signature to every aspiring trainer. Some poor assistant probably had carpal tunnel at this point.

    Reading the note over again, Ethan looked to Looker yet again. ¡°So, I¡¯m officially a resident?¡±

    Looker nodded as he kicked his feet up onto the side of his bed. ¡°Yup. Figure out what you want to do yet?¡±

    Looker wasn¡¯t expecting an answer, but after doing his research, Ethan had indeed thought of his path. If he couldn¡¯t choose between being a breeder or a move tutor, then he¡¯d be both.

    ¡°Actually, yes. I think I¡¯d like to be a breeder and a move tutor. Given my prior knowledge and some research last night, I think I stand a pretty good chance at being successful. I even taught some wild Pokemon some moves before.¡±

    Looker was looking toward the ceiling, contemplating Ethan¡¯s choice. After a few seconds, he kicked his feet off the bed and flashed him a smile. ¡°Sounds like a pretty good idea. Now, where are you going to set up your operation?¡±

    ¡°Do I have options? You said the League would help with setting me up, but I''m going to be honest with you. The only thing that¡¯s been given to me since I arrived here was a hard time.¡± Ethan grumbled as he ate the rest of his breakfast.

    Looker stuffed his hands into his pockets and shrugged. ¡°I think I know of a fairly good plot of land. It has a bunch of berry trees on it already. It¡¯s a little off the beaten path, but I think that can be solved pretty easily. You probably need to let the big momma Ursaring that lives near know what you¡¯re planning though.¡±

    Ethan paused, toast hanging from his mouth. ¡°You can¡¯t be serious¡­¡±

    Looker looked dead serious. ¡°Ethan, you¡¯ve spent so much effort there already. You know the local Pokemon, and creating a proper home and path is much easier than building you a ranch from scratch. While the League wants to help you, it has its limits.¡±

    Thinking back, the clearing was large enough to host a proper house, breeding pen, and already has trees full of berries to feed the Pokemon with. The only issue was the location. He didn¡¯t actually know where it was located.

    ¡°You got a map? I don¡¯t actually know where it is. I only know it¡¯s in Eterna Forest. Isn¡¯t that like¡­ protected land or something?¡±

    Looker looked amused. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s protected alright. Protected by loads of Pokemon that is. I think you vastly underestimate the size of the forest. This isn¡¯t a game, Ethan. That forest spans nearly a hundred miles. There¡¯s already some predetermined paths created by the rangers so that trainers can safely traverse the forest. We¡¯d just need to see if we can connect one to your little slice of land. Set up a sign, and get your name out there.¡±

    The more Looker talked, the more the idea sounded¡­ alright. The main issue with being lost in the forest was not being able to leave and not being able to talk to other people. If there was a path and he knew where he could go, then it didn¡¯t sound too bad. Also, he¡¯d be lying is he said he didn¡¯t miss his Oddish and Hoppip.

    Ethan gave Looker a slight smile. ¡°Well, let¡¯s get a map. Shall we?¡±

 Chapter 7

    After some more research and cooperation with Agent Looker, Ethan had solidified his plan. He would go back to his clearing.

    As it turns out, it was located just in between Mt Coronet and the dead center of Eterna Forest. While it was nowhere near Route 205 which winded through the forest itself, it was an hour or so away from one of the deeper side paths more advanced trainers occasionally traveled through.

    While his small plot of land wouldn¡¯t be a popular destination, it could be one¡ªwith a little effort and advertisement. Looker had said that the League would pay for a branching path toward his clearing, build a proper pen, build him a real house, and add in a small pool of water in the nearby meadow. Looker recommended that he try to find a water type Pokemon to help him out, which he absolutely agreed with.

    According to Looker, some of the information gleaned from his memories ended up being actionable, and him sharing his memories solved a lot of issues. It also prepared them for what was to come. Ethan never asked for specifics, as he was in no way shape or form ready to combat any of the monstrosities from the games or anime, but he had some solid guesses on what they could be. Nevertheless, Ethan wasn¡¯t in a position to stop events if they were to transpire, and he¡¯d done his part in alerting those who could.

    In return, they were more than willing to help him get started on his new life. Things were beginning to turn around for him, and if he was honest, he was waiting for the other shoe to drop.

    He was sure this plan wasn¡¯t going to go perfectly. Something would go wrong somewhere down the line, and he would be in trouble. But, for now, he was more than willing to give it a go.

    Before they could get started, he needed to get permission from the local territory leader¡ªUrsaring. Ethan didn¡¯t think his plans would fall apart right at the beginning, but maybe he didn¡¯t know Ursaring as well as he thought he did. If she said no, he would have to start somewhere else¡­ but that clearing was where he had survived. He¡¯d grown attached to it.

    Getting back to the forest to have that conversation with Ursaring, was a problem in and of itself. Ethan didn¡¯t have a Pokemon, and without one, he wouldn¡¯t be allowed entry into Eterna Forest to begin with.

    While the buying and selling of Pokemon wasn¡¯t illegal. It had very specific stipulations. Firstly, the Pokemon in question needed to be either bred for sale, or sold as an egg. Sure, there were black markets for Pokemon, but that was obviously not the route Ethan was going to go for. The only problem Ethan had with buying a Pokemon was that¡­ he didn¡¯t think it was for him.

    If he was going to buy a pokemon, he would make sure that it knew what it was getting into. Yeah, he¡¯d train it and do his best to make it happy, but if the Pokemon wanted to go to the top, then it could find a much better trainer than him. He didn¡¯t think he was capable of becoming an elite trainer.

    Also, Ethan just didn¡¯t have the money to buy a pokemon. He didn¡¯t want to beg the Pokemon League for even more support. He wanted to do this himself, as it''s a living thing that was going to be with him for, hopefully, the rest of its life.

    So, in all his completely sane and logical wisdom. Ethan decided that the proper course of action would be to use his only Pokeball, travel around the city, and find a Pokemon that wanted to join him willingly.

    Oh, he was picky. He wanted a Pokemon that he actually liked¡­

    But that quickly faded away after a few hundred ¡®No.¡¯

    ¡ª-------------------

    ¡°Pspspspspspsps.¡± Ethan acted a fool, trying to get the attention of a very uninterested Glameow.

    Right now, said Glameow was up atop a wall, lined with a hedge. It gingerly licked its paw as it gave Ethan the side eye. In his desperation, he continued to make pathetic kitten call sounds.

    ¡°Pspspspspspsp. I have a berry farm. Pspspspspsp. It¡¯ll be a nice home and we can be friends¡­¡±

    The Glameow visibly sighed with exasperation and flicked its glowing brown paw in his direction, causing a spray of sand to get shot directly into his eyes¡­ again.

    ¡°Motherfu¡ª¡±

    *Hissss*

    The Glameow literally hissed at him, flashing its sharp fangs in the process. Knowing when a battle was lost, Ethan left the Glameow alone as he rubbed his red eyes to clear the remaining bits of sand out of them.

    ¡°Jesus¡­ Sand Attack is no joke¡­ It knows a damn Egg move¡­¡±

    After he cleared his eyes, he looked to the sky and saw that the sun was beginning to set. He¡¯d spent most of the day trying to convince the wild city Pokemon to join him, but he¡¯d failed every step of the way. There weren¡¯t very many options to be had to begin with, but at this point, he¡¯d take what he could get.

    Ethan slinked back to the Pokemon center he¡¯d been staying at right as the sun retreated over the horizon. All around him, people walked in and out of the center with their respective partners walking alongside them, or riding on their shoulders. He saw a Beautifly, Staravia, Bidoof, Murkrow, Wingull, Sneasel, and even a treacherous Glameow all around him. The most impressive Pokemon out and about, was a Lopunny. The human rabbit Pokemon kept tapping their trainer on the shoulder with one of its large arm-like ears.

    He felt like the world was gloating over him. They had a partner, and he did not.

    As he watched those with Pokemon riding on their shoulders, the only thing he could think of was Pachirisu. They¡¯d played and worked together almost every day since it first came around, and it would ride on his shoulders as he picked berries for it to eat. Yeah, it¡¯d run away right after, but it did ride on his shoulder, if only for a minute.

    Ethan clenched the Pokeball in his pocket. If he couldn¡¯t find a Pokemon to join him tomorrow, then he¡¯d find someone to escort him to his plot of land. Surely, that¡¯d be allowed¡­ right?

    ¡ª--

    Turns out, after a few more hours of research on the free computer in the lobby, that getting escorted into the forest by a Trainer wasn¡¯t allowed at all. Ethan slumped in the chair and ran a hand through his overly long hair.

    He could get escorted by the Rangers, but Ethan didn¡¯t think he wanted to bother them for something so simple. Sadly, as his options seemed to dwindle by the day, that¡¯s probably what he¡¯s going to have to do.

    ¡°Are you doing okay, Ethan?¡± The voice of Nurse Joy pulled him out of his misery. It was another late night, but Nurse Joy never appeared to be asleep. As always, she checked on him every once in a while, much to his thanks.

    Ethan gave the pink-haired nurse a tired smile. ¡°Just¡­ frustrated. I spent all day trying to find a Pokemon to join me, but didn¡¯t have any luck. I can¡¯t go back to the forest to set up my future without a Pokemon, and the one Pokemon I know who would probably join me, is near my plot of land. So, I''m stuck.¡±

    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    While the Pokemon Center was open 24/7, it definitely ebbed and flowed. Currently, it was just him and Nurse Joy in the lobby.

    Nurse Joy pulled up a chair and sat next to him, overlooking the little notebook he had been filling out with information. Ethan slid his notebook over for her to read and watched as a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she did so.

    He¡¯d been researching proper care for each type of Pokemon and their dietary habits. His meticulous notes filled the pages quickly, so Nurse Joy had to flip a few pages to view his work.

    ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯re taking all of this seriously, but you don¡¯t need to rush. As a Trainer, you have a full month of free room and board at a Pokemon center each season. You have time, Ethan.¡±

    Ethan sighed and sunk into his chair. ¡°I know¡­ but I¡¯ve waited enough since I''ve been here. I¡¯m out of patience.¡±

    Nurse Joy understood, he could see that she did, but stuck to her advice. ¡°It¡¯s not like you¡¯re doing nothing here, Ethan. You¡¯re getting the knowledge you need to prepare yourself for the future. Have you looked into battling?¡±

    He¡¯d seen a few clips here and there when searching up Pokemon, but he hadn¡¯t really spent any time researching and reviewing any actual serious battles. Most of the battles he¡¯d seen so far were simple demonstrations, or some teens having their first battles. If he was being honest, he was avoiding looking into the upper echelon of trainers, as he was sure that if he watched someone with an Ursaring Hyper Beam half a stadium out of existence, he¡¯d be rethinking his current plans.

    Nurse Joy seemed to read his thoughts and scooted her chair over and typed away on the computer. She went to an old school looking forum filled with articles and blogs about recent battles and tips for training. Quickly, she found the video she was looking for.

    As the video popped up into existence. Ethan knew who was on the screen. He had to hold in a snort at seeing the nearly permanently closed eyes of Brock, the Pewter City Gym Leader. In the video, Brock was doing a walkthrough and warm up training exercise with a Geodude. He talked about the Geodude species as he helped the Pokemon train.

    When they were done, he released a small, tan, armadillo-like Pokemon¡ªA Sandshrew. He had them battle one another, and like the snippets he¡¯d seen in the past, it didn¡¯t look very high stakes.

    ¡°Is there a reason you¡¯re making me watch this?¡± Ethan asked, curious about Nurse Joy''s machinations.

    She gestured toward the screen and flashed him a smile. ¡°What do you think of their battle?¡±

    Unlike in the games where four moves and taking turns was the name of the game, real life was very much fluid. He watched as the Geodude transitioned from a Rollout, directly into a tackle. The Sandshrew clawed its way into the earth within the blink of an eye, avoiding the attacks and countering with the move Dig. The Geodude was sent flying, and was quickly surrounded by a flurry of white stars that hit it with unerring accuracy, slamming it into the side.

    It was pretty impressive, and the two Pokemon looked to be rivals, going by their smirks.

    ¡°I think it¡¯s impressive.¡± Ethan said honestly.

    Nurse Joy nodded along. ¡°What if I told you that¡¯s about as good as most people get?¡±

    As he continued watching the video, the Geodude curled into a ball, obviously using Defense Curl, and began rapidly spinning in circles in the air, destroying the incoming Swift with its Rapid Spin.

    ¡°I¡¯d say that¡¯s believable. I¡¯m sure their Pokemon are much stronger than these two, though.¡±

    ¡°Most likely,¡± A familiar voice said from behind them. Ethan and Nurse Joy turned around, finding the blonde-haired woman from last night approaching with a confident smile. ¡°But the strategy would be about the same. The power of the Pokemon matters, but the Trainer is what brings out the true strength of their Pokemon. Any Pokemon can become strong with enough drive and effort. Battles may quicken with stronger Pokemon, as their speed increases, but I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if a lot of Trainers can¡¯t keep up with their partners past a certain point. Trainers have to train themselves along the way. In my opinion, that¡¯s why most can¡¯t get past their fourth badge.¡±

    Ethan raised a brow, suitably impressed with the apparent talking font of knowledge. ¡°Well, you sure seem knowledgeable. I don¡¯t think I ever caught your name..?¡±

    The woman smirked and flicked her hair over her shoulder. ¡°I sure hope so. I got all eight badges back in my first year. You can call me¡­ Cici.¡±

    Nurse Joy snorted and quickly tried to act serious, failing miserably. ¡°Cici is a rather prominent trainer. You can take her word for it. The reason I wanted you to watch, is so that you can understand that you have a chance. You don¡¯t need to be an expert to enjoy battling, Ethan. Maybe, you can try bonding with a local Pokemon by battling with them here in the battle courts?¡±

    Cici flashed a smile and crossed her arms. ¡°That sounds like a great idea. I assume you¡¯re looking for your first Pokemon?¡±

    Ethan nodded, and then explained how the day went to the two women. They both listened attentively and silently as he spoke about his troubles. Feeling some relief, he started to trauma dump. How he needed a Pokemon to return to his clearing and enter the forest, and how he wasn¡¯t sure about finding a Pokemon just to return. He explained his goals, about how he wanted to be a move tutor and breeder, how he felt like he actually stood a chance at being successful. About how he wanted a partner, but he felt like he was using his current circumstances as an excuse to coerce a Pokemon to join him. In the end, about how it felt like he was stuck.

    When he was finished he realized that he might have been a little too forthcoming. Especially to Cici. They¡¯d just met and he just dropped all of his troubles onto her. She didn¡¯t seem to mind it much, but it was still very improper for him to do that.

    Cici¡¯s went to a separate computer station and dragged a chair over to join them. ¡°A move tutor and a breeder¡­ That¡¯s an interesting choice of work. Do you have any experience?¡±

    ¡°Well¡ª¡± Ethan started, but was cut off from Nurse Joy.

    ¡°He¡¯s taught some wild Pokemon some moves already. He¡¯s taught a group of wild Oddish Sunny Day and Rain Dance, and a Pachirisu, an assortment of varied moves. If I recall, you taught it Seed Bomb, Isn¡¯t that right?¡±

    Taken a little off guard by Nurse Joy¡¯s sudden gushing over his skills, Ethan was conscientious. Cici looked mightily impressed as she listened to the praise, causing Ethan to preen just a tad. He had worked hard teaching those Pokemon¡­ he deserved a little bit of credit where it was due!

    Cici looked Ethan up and down with judging eyes, then asked a surprising question. ¡°Do you think you could teach one of my Pokemon?¡±

    Nurse Joy audibly gasped, but gave him an excited smile and rapidly nodded her head. Ethan was hesitant, but he had to start somewhere. ¡°I can try. Do you have a Pokemon in mind?¡±

    Cici reached down to her waistband, where¡­ eleven Pokeballs rested?

    Is six not the carrying capacity? I have to check that later. I assumed that was the case. Ethan thought, as Cici released on of her many Pokemon.

    Out of the red light of release, a small blop of tan fur, which had darkened brown stripes running down its back appeared. The Pokemon looked to Cici and snorted from it¡¯s small pink pig-like nose and puffed out a little plume of ice and snow.

    ¡°Swiii¨CSwinub.¡±

    The Swinub gazed around the empty Pokemon center, seemingly looking for something to battle.

    Cici bent and picked up the Swinub and cradled it in her arms. ¡°Can you teach Swinub a move?¡±

    Cici was holding Swinub in a cradle, ticking its belly. Its little feet kicked rapidly in the air and it snorted ice and snow with pleasure.

    ¡°Did you have a specific move in mind?¡± Ethan asked.

    She thought for a moment, but gave him a sly smile. ¡°What do you think is best?¡±

    ¡°What moves does¡­¡± Ethan inspected the Swinub a little closer. ¡°¡­he know already?

    ¡°He knows Mud-Slap, Tackle, and Powder Snow. I just got him not too long ago.¡± She responded.

    Ethan tried to remember all of the details about Swinub and its evolutions. He¡¯d played with them before in the games, but he was most definitely not an expert. They were big, powerful physical attackers, and masters of earth and ice. Since this little guy looked to be young, given his move pool, something lower power was probably best. Given that it¡¯d be using ground and ice as its main styles, Mud Shot sounded like a safe pick. It¡¯d help it reduce the speed of its enemies, as they weren¡¯t typically the fastest of Pokemon.

    With his decision made, he made the offer. ¡°What about Mud Shot?¡±

    Cici thought it over for a minute, before conferring with her Pokemon. ¡°What do you think? Do you want to learn Mud Shot?¡±

    The Swinub nodded with what looked to be a third of its body in excitement. ¡°Swi!¡±

    Everyone laughed at its enthusiasm, which made it squint its eyes in displeasure.

    Cici tossed Ethan Swinub¡¯s Pokeball as she placed Swinub back onto the floor. Ethan fumbled with the thrown ball as She spoke. ¡°I¡¯ll check in every night. Show me what you can do.¡±

    With that declaration. Cici sauntered out of the Pokemon Center, leaving Swinub behind on the floor.

    Ethan looked from the exit, to Swinub, to the Pokeball in his hand¡­ eventually ending up looking at Nurse Joy.

    He awkwardly coughed and leaned in to whisper. ¡°How do I use this¡­?¡± He held out the Pokeball.

    Nurse Joy looked at the ball, then cackled like a witch.

 Chapter 8

    ¡°Alright buddy, have you got a feel for it yet?¡± Ethan hung up the water hose connected to the outside of the Pokemon center as he watched Swinub play around in the tiny mud pit he¡¯d created with Nurse Joy¡¯s permission.

    Swinub looked like he was having the time of his life. Oinking in glee while jumping up and down, sending splashes of mud everywhere around him.

    Some of the nearby trainers waiting for their turn to battle in the battle courts watched on with slight smiles at the scene. Ethan didn¡¯t mind the little audience, as he was sure that this wasn¡¯t anything too out of the norm.

    ¡°Swiiiiinub¡± Swinub kept flicking mud out of the pit with his nose, and Ethan decided that this was a learning opportunity.

    ¡°Okay Swinub, now that you got a feel for the mud. I want you to focus on shooting the mud out of the pit. Like you¡¯re already doing. Remember, you¡¯re going to have to do this without any mud in place in the future. You¡¯ll have to create it.¡± Ethan said as he bent down and made himself a little round mud ball.

    With his human Mud Shot in hand, he launched it toward a faraway tree. Sadly, he watched as it couldn¡¯t hold itself together, and splattered into the air before it reached its destination. ¡°Did you see that? Mine was bad. It needs to stay together until it hits the target. Go ahead and give it a go.¡±

    Swinub gave a little snort and looked from the mud pit to the same tree Ethan had tossed his projectile at. With a little shake, Swinub called out his name and flicked his head forward through the pit, launching a spray of mud ahead of him.

    Ethan laughed. ¡°We¡¯re going for Mud Shot Swinub! Not Muddy Water! I don¡¯t even think you can learn that move. Go ahead and try again.¡±

    For the next few minutes, Swinub launched sprays of mud outwards in a wave. To someone who hasn¡¯t been watching the whole process, they would say that Ethan was wasting his time. But after teaching all of the Oddish and Pachirisu moves, he knew what to look for.

    The little mud waves Swinub was making were getting narrower and narrower. It wasn¡¯t much right now, only maybe a few inches better, but soon, it would be a stream of mud. That was what Mud Shot actually was. It wasn¡¯t a ball of mud like Ethan had been trying to show Swinub. He just set the bar extra high to push the Pokemon just a tad further.

    After a few more minutes, Swinub had almost depleted its small mud puddle. However, the Pokemon was so focused on perfecting its move that it failed to realize it was now actually creating the mud it was throwing.

    Ethan smiled softly as he watched the hard working Pokemon train.

    ¡°Excuse me.¡± A small voice called from behind.

    Ethan looked over his shoulder and saw a young kid, maybe ten years old, holding a small Elekid in his arms. It was dangling limply, but didn¡¯t seem put off by the treatment. The kid was obviously an aspiring trainer, as he had a graphic tee with two Pokemon having a stare off, and even wore a belt with a bunch of fake plastic Pokeballs on it. The Elekid was watching Swinub ¡®play¡¯ in the mud, and didn¡¯t look interested in joining.

    ¡°Can I help you?¡± He asked the kid.

    ¡°Do you want to battle?¡±

    Ethan looked from the Elekid to the Swinub, and tried to think of how to let the kid down easy. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I can¡¯t. It¡¯s not that I don''t want to. It¡¯s just that this actually isn¡¯t my Pokemon. I¡¯m just teaching it a move for another trainer.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ Okay, can I watch?¡± The kid asked, eyes full of curiosity at the ¡®training¡¯ that was going on.

    With a shrug Ethan waved the young lad over and explained what he was trying to do. The kid listened to his explanation, and the Elekid did as well. The Elekid actually looked impressed with Ethan¡¯s guile at tricking the Swinub. It nodded sagely, as if that was something it would do as well.

    Swinub was making good progress, but he wouldn¡¯t learn the move today. If he was persistent, he would finish learning the move by midday tomorrow. Ethan didn¡¯t know how long it usually took to teach a Pokemon a new move, but Mud Shot didn¡¯t seem that complicated in the grand scheme of things. It wasn¡¯t like he was teaching the young Pokemon Earthquake, Giga Impact, or Hyper Beam.

    The kid watched for awhile, but eventually someone came to find him as he had apparently wandered off. ¡°Joel! There you are!¡±

    Joel physically cringed as he slowly craned his head around. ¡°Sorry¡­¡±

    A younger woman, around twenty years old, probably his older sister going by their similar looks, strode up and placed her hands on her hips in displeasure. ¡°You said you¡¯d be battling. I spent the last twenty minutes looking for you.¡±

    She turned her gaze to Ethan, who gave a small wave. ¡°Sorry if he was bothering you.¡±

    With a shake of the head, Ethan went back to watching Swinub practice. ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. He was just interested in watching me teach Swinub a move.¡±

    The woman looked at Swinub and then back to Ethan. ¡°You a tutor?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m trying to be. A breeder too, but that needs some more planning.¡± He replied.

    ¡°Huh¡­¡± The girl looked a little impressed, but shook her head and waved for Joel to follow along. ¡°Anyways, thanks for keeping an eye on Joel. We gotta get going. It was nice to meet you.¡±

    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    ¡°Likewise.¡±

    He watched them both leave, and turned back to Swinub, who had finally realized that the mud he had been throwing wasn¡¯t infinite. He looked around the now dry pit of dirt, heavily confused before turning to Ethan for an explanation.

    ¡°What? You¡¯ve been creating mud for the last few minutes! Good job! I think you¡¯ll have it down by tomorrow. Why don¡¯t we take a break and go get you some food?¡±

    With excited snorts, Swinub scrambled out of the pit and rushed up to Ethan, who bent down and picked up the hefty little Pokemon.

    ¡°Get¡­ Some Food?¡±

    Ethan whipped his head around to the sounds of his own voice. It sounded much more warbling and rhythmic, but it was most definitely his voice.

    Up in the tree they had been using for target practice, a one foot tall bird stood with a tilted head. It was colorful, with a mix of pink, yellow, green, blue, and black interspersed in sections throughout its feathers. On its head, a large musical note pointed up into the air.

    The Pokemon blinked a few times, then let out a singing cry. ¡°? Chaa-tooot! ?¡±

    Ethan had a giant smile as he looked upon one of his many favorite Pokemon¡ªChatot. ¡°Why look at you! You know, you¡¯re one of my favorites. If you''d like, I can get you some food as well. Wanna ride on my shoulder?¡±

    The Chatot twisted and tilted its head quizzically. It hopped back and forth a few inches on the branch perch, and fluttered its wings, preparing for flight. Within a second, the Chatot soared across the small field he had taken over and gently landed on his shoulder. Its taloned feet clamped down on his muscles tightly, but not uncomfortably.

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot! ?¡±

    ¡°Swiii¡±

    ¡°? Chaa-tooooooooot! ?¡±

    The two Pokemon started a little conversation as Ethan made his way back towards the entrance of the Pokemon center. Nurse Joy had informed him that he was free to use the standard Pokechow most trainers used if he wanted to give the Swinub an extra portion, but apparently Cici¡¯s Pokemon had their own special blend they used for standard meals. Nurse Joy had some on hand and he had the sneaking suspicion that they knew each other rather well.

    Once inside, Chatot tilted its head and gazed about the bustling lobby. It ruffled its feathers, and quickly shuffled closer against Ethan¡¯s head, causing Ethan to have to tilt his head to the side awkwardly. It gazed around at the multitude of Pokemon for a few seconds, and ever so slowly unruffled its feathers as it calmed down. It didn¡¯t move away, though. So Ethan was stuck tilting his head for now.

    ¡°Swiiiii¡±

    ¡°? Chaa-Chaa-tooot! ?¡±

    The two Pokemon started to chat with one another once again, and from the side, a random nearby trainer¡¯s Maril waved jovially and joined in.

    .

    ¡°Mari-Mar-Maril!¡±

    Ethan stood there awkwardly as all of the Pokemon had a conversation. The Maril¡¯s trainer looked around at the commotion, and saw this his Pokemon was chatting away, causing Ethan to be rooted on the spot. ¡°Saby! You¡¯re causing that guy some iss¡ªGAH!¡±

    Maril instantly turned around, put her nubby hands on her round hips, glared, then shot a stream of water directly at its trainer''s face. As the trainer swept the water away, Maril pretended nothing happened and went back to jovially chatting up Chatot and Swinub.

    After another minute, Ethan was starting to feel a crick in his neck, so he had to interrupt. ¡°Okay, I think I gotta get going. Sorry, Mar¡ªI mean Saby.¡±

    The Maril glowered at Ethan for a bit, before reluctantly nodding and waving towards Swinub and Chatot, who waved back.

    ¡°Chatot¡­ can you move over a bit?¡±

    Chatot tilted its head, then hopped back over to sit properly on his shoulder. With a sigh of relief Ethan walked into the small kitchen area where trainers could eat their meals with their Pokemon, and got everyone set up.

    Chatot gingerly picked at its standard brown Pokechow pellets, and Swinub basically swam in his little bowl piled of darker colored blocks, sending bits and pieces flying off into the nearby space. He had no chill.

    ¡°My oh my! What do we have here?¡± The voice of the approaching Nurse Joy rang out in a little sing-song tone. She had a tray of food for herself, and her Chansey waddled along with a tray of their own. ¡°Chanse!¡±

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot! ?¡± Chatot fluttered its wings as it hopped a bit to turn toward the new voice.

    Nurse Joy silently inspected the Chatot as she sat down next to Ethan. ¡°You¡¯re a beautiful one, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Hey Nurse Joy¡­ I hope you didn¡¯t mind me getting some food for Chatot.¡± Ethan started, but Joy waved away all of his worries.

    ¡°It¡¯s no problem at all. We take care of all Pokemon here. This Chatot seems to have taken a liking to you.¡± Nurse Joy raised and lowered her eyebrows repeatedly, giving him a not so subtle hint.

    After taking the hint and clearing his throat, Ethan hesitantly turned toward Chatot. ¡°Say, Chatot¡­ What are your thoughts on joining me as my first Pokemon?¡±

    Chatot hopped around, tilted his head, then looked toward Swinub in question.

    ¡°Oh! No, Swinub isn¡¯t mine. I¡¯ve just been teaching him a move. That¡¯s what I¡¯d like to do. I want to teach moves to Pokemon, and hopefully breed them in the future. Run a day-care, and all of that. I have a nice plot of land in the Eterna Forest, the big forest south-west of here. It has a berry farm, and lots of wild Pokemon come by and eat their fill¡­¡±

    Ethan sent nervous looks toward a reassuring and nodding Nurse joy. She kept waving at him to continue. ¡°Chatot is one of my favorite species, and I¡¯d really love it if you joined me as my first partner. You especially, are very nice and kind. Most wild Pokemon just ignored me. I can¡¯t promise that you¡¯ll be the strongest Pokemon in the world, but I can promise that I¡¯d do my best to make you happy.¡±

    Ethan reached into his pocket and took out his one and only Pokeball. He slid it across the table, and waited with bated breath.

    Chatot listened carefully, and tilted its head back and forth. He hopped around to face Swinub, Nurse Joy, and Chansey.

    ¡°? Cha-Cha-toooooot? ?¡± ¡°Chansey-Chanse!¡± ¡°Swiiiiiiiii¡±

    Nurse Joy caressed the avian''s head and smoothed back its feathers. She spoke with a serene voice and comforting smile. ¡°I think Ethan would be a great friend, but the choice is yours.¡±

    Chatot flapped its wings a few times, then looked back and forth between the Pokeball and Ethan. ¡°? Chaa-tooot! ?¡± With a slow peck, Chatot tapped the Pokeball on the table and was sucked in with a red light.

    *Shake* *Ding*

 Chapter 9

    Ethan stared at the now still Pokeball with a mixture of happiness, relief, and shock. Nurse Joy squealed and danced around in circles with her Chansey, who was more than willing to participate in the fun dance.

    When she eventually calmed down, she congratulated Ethan on catching his first Pokemon. ¡°Oh, Ethan! Congratulations! Now, let¡¯s not keep it waiting! Go on! Release it!¡±

    Ethan slowly grasped his Pokeball and lobbed it outwards, releasing his newfound friend.

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot! ?¡±

    Chatot sang a rhythmic tune as it bobbed back and forth, dancing to its own tune. Swinub scooted across the floor and oinked in glee, seemingly congratulating Chatot on finding a trainer.

    Ethan knelt down, his food completely forgotten, as he ran a hand over Chatot¡¯s feathered head. Chatot pushed himself into the touch, and Ethan then discovered that a Chatot was capable of a purr. ¡°We¡¯re going to be best friends. I can already tell.¡±

    Nurse Joy clapped her hands, grabbing their attention. ¡°Why don¡¯t we get Chatot a checkup and see how they''re doing? It¡¯s important to always bring your new Pokemon to get a checkup once they¡¯re caught or hatched. Life in the wilderness can be unforgiving, but from my expertise, Chatot seems healthy at a glance. You shouldn¡¯t worry, but it¡¯s better to be safe than sorry.¡±

    The next thirty minutes was humbling, to say the least. Nurse Joy personally did the checkup on Chatot, and she was efficient and charismatic. Chatot easily and willingly followed her orders in return for some treats, and the tests were over within no time.

    Once finished, Nurse Joy wrote some notes onto her tiny clipboard she carries around in her nurse apron, and handed a paper to Ethan. ¡°She¡¯s very healthy. She¡¯ll need some dietary supplements¡ªmostly salt, as she¡¯s far away from her natural habitat, but other than that! She¡¯s as fit as a fiddle.¡±

    Ethan was surprised by what he read on the small note he was given. It listed her recommendations for what her diet plan should be, her relative age, and her moves. Chatot was around two years old, which wasn¡¯t considered young, but she wasn¡¯t quite an adult yet. Her moves, though, came as a surprise.

    Chatot currently knew Chatter, their species signature move, Growl, Taunt, Hyper Voice, Peck, Sing, Round, Mimic, Encore, and Boomburst. All of her moves, except Peck, were sound based moves, which made sense, but Boomburst was an enormous boon.

    If Ethan wasn¡¯t mistaken, Boomburst was one of the strongest sound based moves known to exist. While his eardrums would probably explode if Chatot used it near him, it was still a very useful and powerful tool to have. Chatot was more than capable of protecting him if it came down to it from that move alone.

    Chatter, Chatot¡¯s signature move, was extremely underrated. If it had a 100% chance to confuse like it did in some of the games, then it was potentially even more powerful than Boomburst, given the circumstances. He couldn¡¯t be happier with what he read.

    Chatot flutter up and onto his shoulder and tweeted her song. ¡°? Chaa-tooot! ?¡±

    Ethan casually petted his new friend as he spoke to her. ¡°You¡¯re more impressive than I thought! I¡¯m sure with some practice, you¡¯ll be a powerhouse of your own. I want to ask¡­ Do you want to be strong? I can promise you that I¡¯ll do my best to make you as strong as you can be, but I know my best isn¡¯t as good as some others¡­¡±

    Chatot lifted one of her wings and wrapped it around his head, giving him a hug. ¡°Best. ? Chaa-tooot! ?¡±

    Ethan smiled and felt a warm surge in his chest. This was the best thing that had happened to him in¡­ well, forever. The emotions he currently felt washed away the stress and frustration he had about being alone in the forest.

    ¡°You wanna go back in your ball? Or do you wanna hang out while I train Swinub some more?¡±

    Chatot tilted her head back and forth, thinking. ¡°Ball. ? Chaa-tooot! ?¡±

    Without further ado, Ethan returned Chatot into her ball and was left alone with Nurse Joy. She was giving him a bright smile, showing all of her pearly white teeth. ¡°I¡¯m so happy for you, Ethan. Don¡¯t let me keep you, go and train¡­ Cici¡¯s Swinub. I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll be impressed by the results.¡±

    Before he left the room, he had a question that had been eating away at him. ¡°By the way, do you happen to know what Pokemon feel like when they¡¯re in their Pokeball? Can they hear what goes on outside of it?¡±

    Nurse Joy wiped down all of the instruments she¡¯d used for Chatot¡¯s test as she answered. ¡°From what I''ve been told by various psychic types, it¡¯s like having your own room. They can hear what goes on outside of their ball and can even willingly leave it, but it takes some serious effort to do so. If you¡¯re worried about why Chatot wanted to go into her ball, it¡¯s probably because it¡¯s new to her. She wants to experience it to make sure its something she¡¯s okay with. Good question, anything else?¡±

    ¡°No, but thanks so much. If I ever become a famous tutor or breeder, I¡¯ll be sure to return all of the help you¡¯ve given me.¡±

    Nurse joy waved him off with a chuckle, and Ethan went back outside to continue Swinub¡¯s Training.

    ¡ª------------------------------------------

    ¡°Well, I¡¯ll be damned¡­¡± Ethan mumbled softly as he watched Swinub successfully use the move Mud Shot for the first time.

    This little guy had some energy in him. Yeah, the little guy probably felt like this was all fun and game, playing around throwing mud, but he had quickly figured out something on his own, and made leaps and bounds with his progress.

    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

    Instead of the mud wave getting an inch narrower, he¡¯d seemed to figure out a trick on his own to do it more efficiently. He¡¯d gotten it to narrow several inches after each attempt recently. It was nighttime, but the little guy didn¡¯t want to take a break. He¡¯d even wiggled out of Ethan¡¯s grasp when he tried to make him take one!

    ¡°Swiiiii¡± Swinub yelled out a little cry as it shot its thick hose of mud, splattering it all against their targeted tree.

    ¡°Okay Swinub! Do that one more time! Then we¡¯re done!¡± Ethan called out, receiving a determined nod from Swinub in return.

    ¡°Swiiiiii¡± Swinub wiggled its behind, and let loose its final flourish. ¡°NUB!¡±

    A picture perfect Mud Shot zoomed across the small training field, landing with a decent amount of force onto the faraway tree. Swinub cut off its move, and took a few deep breaths. Ethan walked forward and picked him up, cradling him like Cici had done the night prior. ¡°Swinub, I got a secret to tell you.¡±

    Swinub wiggled a bit to get in a more comfortable position as it let loose a barely audible. ¡°Swinub?¡±

    Ethan flashed Swinub a grin. ¡°I lied earlier. Mud Shot isn¡¯t a ball. It¡¯s what you just did. You did it, buddy!¡±

    Ethan laughed as he saw a Pokemon stare with its mouth agape in shock for the first time. He didn¡¯t gape for long, as he began wiggling excitedly and repeatedly called out its name. ¡°Okay, back into your ball for now. Take a good rest! I¡¯ll let you out to meet Cici here in a bit. You can show off your new move to her then.¡±

    Swinub gave a nod and Ethan returned him into his ball, then walked back to the Pokemon Center. He didn¡¯t know when Cici would be back. She only told him that she¡¯d check up on Swinub¡¯s progress every day. But if he had to guess, he¡¯d assumed she¡¯d be here soon. She¡¯d arrived at around the same time the previous nights, so it wasn¡¯t a giant leap to come to that conclusion.

    While he waited, he used the computer in the lobby to do some research on notable egg moves and what being a breeder required. Ethan wasn¡¯t a fool. He knew it wouldn¡¯t be as simple as ¡®Hey you two! Go make an egg!¡¯ If he wanted to do this seriously, he needed to study. He was already so much further behind than everyone else. So, he had a lot of time to make up for.

    After clicking through what felt like several hundred hyperlinks, Ethan eventually found some of the information he was interested in¡ªBreeding strong Pokemon. Lots of breeders bred rare pokemon for sale. As he suspected, they also bred overall ¡®popular¡¯ pokemon as well. At the very top of the list was Eevee. Unsurprisingly, after Eevee was basically every single region starter.

    After skipping past all of the starters, he blinked in surprise. If you counted all of the starter pokemon as a single spot on the list, Growlithe was in third place, and reading some of the attached information, it all made sense. 90% of law enforcement used Growlithe as their partners, and Arcanine was a solid competitive pokemon. Not to mention, boys loved the firedog.

    Ethan knew that he wasn¡¯t going to be able to compete with the mass breeders for popular or rare Pokemon, but he could get himself into a niche of breeding strong pokemon. According to some research papers credited to a very familiar name, Professor Adrian Elm, selectively breeding elite level pokemon usually resulted in offspring that started at a higher skill floor. They were stronger and faster, but not to a significant degree.

    Those breeding Eevee, starters, and growlithe, did not breed elite level pokemon. They had breeding pairs, multiple of them, and sold their offspring to trainers. The Pokemon were willing participants in the selling of their offspring, as it ensured that their offspring would not have to struggle to survive out in the wilds and would be cared for and trained to a standard above that of what they could achieve in the wild by themselves.

    All in all, it was a very interesting subject. One which he would need to do a lot more research on. He was about to search for the League mandated carrying capacity, when Cici strolled into the lobby.

    Ethan gave her a wave and his best smile as he tried to smother his pride. He was proud of himself, but more so proud of Swinub. Afterall, Ethan was more in the¡­ managerial position. Swinub was the one who put in the work.

    Cici sauntered over towards him and cut to the chase. ¡°How¡¯s Swinub doing?¡±

    Ethan took Swinub¡¯s pokeball out from his pocket and released him then and there. Swinub let loose a cute cry of his name as he surged forward and head-butted Cici¡¯s leg with affection. Cici swept him up into her arms and smiled.

    Ethan stood from his seat and watched as they bonded with one another. ¡°You should be proud of this little guy. He¡¯s full of boundless energy and a very hard worker. Though, I don¡¯t even think he realized what we were doing was work. To him, it was all fun and games.¡±

    Cici nodded and swept her hair back as she spoke. ¡°I can¡¯t wait to see his progress. I¡¯m sure he¡¯s learned a good deal.¡±

    Ethan suppressed his grin as he gestured toward the doors. ¡°Let¡¯s go see, shall we?¡±

    Once they were outside in the very same battle court they had trained in earlier in the day, Cici placed Swinub on the ground, then gestured for Ethan to showcase Swinub¡¯s improvements.

    Ethan gave Swinub a thumbs up and did his best to give Swinub his first proper order. ¡°Okay Swinub! Use Mud Shot!¡±

    ¡°Swiiii¨CNUB!¡±

    Swinub tilted his head back, then thrust forward, releasing a textbook Mud Shot straight from his snout. The long stream of mud lasted for a few seconds, before the small oinking pokemon cut the move short.

    Cici watched on silently with no change in her expression.

    After a few seconds of awkward oink filled silence, Ethan was beginning to grow nervous. He shifted his eyes from the strutting Swinub to the calm and collected Cici. ¡°So¡­ What did you think?¡±

    Instead of answering his question, Cici changed topics. ¡°I don¡¯t think we ever agreed on payment.¡±

    Was she disappointed? Is she trying to get a discount? I wasn¡¯t even expecting to get paid for this one¡­

    ¡°Uhh¡­¡± Ethan stammered. For all of his research, he never bothered to check to see how much Move Tutors got paid. He knew it fluctuated based on the move taught, time taken, and loads of other variables, but he didn¡¯t even know the standard.

    Without any change in her emotion or tone, eyes still locked onto the faraway tree, Cici spoke again. ¡°How about fifty thousand?¡±

    As that was more than the zero he had been expecting, Ethan easily agreed. ¡°That sounds good to me. So¡­ What did you think? Swinub worked hard. I think he¡¯s waiting for your approval.¡±

    Cici tore her gaze away from the mud coated tree and instantly smiled as she looked upon her partner. ¡°I¡¯m extremely proud of him. He¡¯s shown why I chose him over all of his family.¡±

    She knelt down. ¡°Swinub, look at me.¡±

    Swinub stopped his little wiggle dance and stared up into Cici¡¯s eyes. His eyes glimmered with hope and adoration. ¡°I¡¯m proud of you. I¡¯ll get you your first real battle here soon. But don¡¯t forget! You¡¯ve still a long way to go if you want to catch up to the others.¡±

    With a giant squeal, Swinub clambered forward and buried his head into Cici¡¯s knees.

    Ethan watched on exceptionally proud with what he and Swinub had achieved today.

    He could get used to this feeling.

 Chapter 10

    Ethan was somewhat disappointed when Cici said she couldn¡¯t stay any longer to chat. He¡¯d wanted to fill her in and explain how Swinub worked hard to achieve his results, but Cici was adamant that she had prior engagements.

    They exchanged phone numbers, and she had electronically sent his payment to his trainer ID from her fancy looking pokegear-watch. Comparing it to his free phone he¡¯d received from the league, he felt like he might have been getting the shaft. What was a pleasant surprise was that trainer ID¡¯s apparently acted as a two-in-one ID/Debit card. That would make life just a little bit easier, as he¡¯d never seen a proper bank to make an account.

    As it was too late in the night to go out shopping for a new set of clothes and some other necessities he¡¯d been missing, Ethan decided that he¡¯d continue doing some research about the world in general while bonding with Chatot.

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot! ?¡± Chatot chattered as she was released. Ethan had swiped some of the free pokechow from the cafeteria and brought it into the lobby so that Chatot could have a meal and be by his side and he continued browsing the ancient-looking web-pages.

    The first thing he researched was what pokechow was. He¡¯d had suspicions, but he wasn¡¯t naive enough to think it was all berries and heartfelt love. But to his pleasant surprise, it was a mix of proper fruits, vegetables, and many dietary supplements. Most of which he couldn¡¯t even pronounce. It was like looking at the ingredient list of a soda.

    He wasn¡¯t sure if he was comfortable having his pokemon eat that¡­

    While he was on the topic of eating, Ethan did his research on carnivorous pokemon, humans eating pokemon, and the general culture surrounding the phenomena.

    While he logically understood that out in the wild, pokemon ate each other for survival, similar to the animals on Earth. It was hard to differentiate between the two. On one hand, he didn¡¯t want to say that the animals from Earth weren¡¯t sentient, they were, and we still ate them. But on the other hand¡­ They¡¯re pokemon. They aren¡¯t just animals.

    He¡¯d seen many Magikarp lazily swimming through the waters, and they didn¡¯t appear much smarter than the average fish¡­ but they probably were. If someone came up to him right now, offering him some Oddish leaves for a salad, he¡¯d probably have a mental breakdown.

    From what he could find through the dated web, the raising and eating of pokemon went back to the past. Where tribes of hunters and gatherers worked with pokemon to hunt down meals together. That wasn¡¯t so far removed from Earth¡¯s past, but surely they were past those times.

    And they were. There were some tales about having to eat wild pokemon in a survival situation, which even Ethan could grant a pass, but it appeared that the majority of people ate what was considered the ¡®lesser intelligent¡¯ pokemon. That phrase alone was already causing him to frown, but he read on.

    Magikarp, Slowpoke Tails (Which apparently regrew on their own?), some beaver pokemon called a Bidoof, and farm raised Tauros, which looked nothing like the Tauros he¡¯d imagined from the games, were the main sources of eaten pokemon in the Sinnoh Region.

    These Tauros weren¡¯t the raging bulls he¡¯d remembered from the anime. These were docile and fat creatures who roamed around in vast green pastures. Some of them weren¡¯t even brown, and caused a pit to form in his stomach.

    While Ethan wasn¡¯t someone who considered himself morally correct all the time. He felt that what he¡¯d been reading was just¡­ barbaric. Maybe because the people of this world had lived with pokemon for all of their lives caused this shift in cultural viewpoints, but Ethan was pretty sure he¡¯d never hop aboard this ideology. He¡¯d barely eaten half of his fried Magikarp the day before, and only ate the eggs given with his breakfast when he was told Chansey had offered the ones that appeared in her pouch.

    He¡­ he might become a vegetarian. That wasn¡¯t a thought he¡¯d ever imagined himself having, but he wasn¡¯t sure if he could bring himself to continue eating the pals he¡¯d seen frolicking around the world. The ones he¡¯d played with as pixels throughout his childhood. The ones that he¡¯d been told were your friends and companions.

    They had standard vegetables and fruits in this world, so he would make it work. He just needed to learn how to¡­ properly cook. For both himself and his pokemon.

    It was just another thing added to the enormous list of things he needed to learn.

    Looking at the time, he noticed it was almost midnight. Chatot was perched up above the monitor, snoozing away. Ethan recalled her into her ball, hoping that didn¡¯t wake her up, then left for his room.

    Tomorrow he¡¯d shop for supplies, contact Looker about the details of his clearing, and make his preparations to return. Well, perhaps he¡¯d practice with Chatot a bit before leaving. Just to make sure his new friend could duke it out if need be.

    ¡ª--------------------------------------

    In Celestic Town, a blonde woman diligently sorted through endless stacks of paperwork, creating a sense of organized chaos. The desk, made of dark mahogany, was nearly obscured by the countless folders and scattered papers strewn about.

    The last few days have been a whirlwind of activity, to say the least. When Agent Looker had personally contacted her about a serious and urgent development, her archeologist persona vanished, and the champion emerged.

    She¡¯d already been aware of minor criminal activities sprouting up throughout the region, but she had never expected for them to be full-blown terrorists. Well, terrorists in the making. With the knowledge granted by Ethan Reed, they¡¯ve already begun rooting out these smaller pockets of criminals, and shored up their targeted locations.

    She wished she¡¯d been a part of the memory link with Ethan Reed. Although she wouldn¡¯t have ever taken the time to go and participate with the knowledge they had beforehand, she was beating herself up over it now. Taking the time to ask about every minor detail from a secondhand source was irritating and frustrating beyond belief. Flying over to Eterna every night to have conversations with the Nurse Joy who was in charge wasn¡¯t very emotionally draining, and oftentimes that was the only chance she¡¯d gotten to get away from the paperwork involved.

    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

    While the main concerns were about the terrorists, Team Galactic, that wasn¡¯t to say that there wasn¡¯t a mountain of other problems as well. First and foremost, being the threat of a faller falling outside of Alola. Thankfully, Looker had overseen the medical examination of Ethan Reed alongside Nurse Joy, and had cleared him of having any residual wormhole energy. Said energy would attract ultra beasts toward him, causing havoc and chaos in Sinnoh.

    The man was completely out of his depth, and had been through a very stressful and sudden arrival. He¡¯d also been extremely lucky. Surviving out in Eterna Forest for a year without a pokemon was unbelievable, but the fact that he¡¯d come from a world without pokemon? That was even more surreal.

    He knows things that others have only begun to theorize. He has knowledge of future events, which may or may not happen¡­ but going by what had already happened, he looked to be on the mark.

    He did the right thing. Asking for a mind reading was about the smartest thing he could have done. He was in no position to confront any of the upcoming threats, and he knew it. Thankfully, him being ¡®bad¡¯ at the games he¡¯d played caused him not to have a hero complex. He wasn¡¯t the chosen one¡ªhe was a man, and he knew that to be true.

    She hadn¡¯t seen him in a battle, but from how well he adapted to being a tutor, having managed to teach a move in a single day, he was fairly good with pokemon. She¡¯d wait to see how he set up his little breeding operation, but that wouldn¡¯t be for a while yet. Getting along with various pokemon was a good first step into becoming a solid trainer. He obviously cared about them, which wasn¡¯t surprising given his origins, but he lacked the confidence needed to be a contender for the elite.

    His decision to become a move tutor and breeder was surprising, but given how much he¡¯d already helped Sinnoh, and maybe even the world, they¡¯d get him sorted out.

    She¡¯d make sure of it.

    This situation could have been an unprecedented disaster, should he have kept all of his knowledge to himself¡ªThat alone needed to be awarded. While there wasn¡¯t much she could do politically to help him, as he was a very important figure they needed to keep under-wraps. There were things she could do personally, and she¡¯d already planted the seeds.

    Earning herself a little break, Cynthia tossed out a pokeball, releasing one of her newest captures.

    ¡°Swiiiii!¡± Swinub ran forward, nearly bonking into the chair, and then tried to climb up onto her lap. She smiled warmly at her newest companion and spoke idly as she ran a hand through his thick coarse fur, which was rewarded with oinks of pleasure. ¡°I¡¯ll find you your first battle here soon. Against a real trainer¡­¡±

    Cynthia leaned back and looked at the ceiling, deep in thought. ¡°During training, keep practicing your Mud Shot. When the time comes, here¡¯s what you¡¯re going to do¡­¡±

    ¡ª-------------------

    ¡°Alright Chatot, let¡¯s see what you can do!¡± Ethan smiled as they stood in the very same battle court where he¡¯d taught Swinub.

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot! ?¡± Chatot fluttered her wings and hopped back and forth.

    ¡°Let me see you Growl!¡±

    With just a slight parting of her beak, Chatot unleashed a growl that sounded like it belonged to a completely different pokemon. As he hadn¡¯t had the chance to listen to the sounds of many pokemon, he wasn¡¯t sure which one she emulated. It sounded like it came from a canine, but that was about as close as he could guess.

    ¡°Next, use Round!¡±

    Chatot gave a loud, pleasing but short squawk. ¡°? Cha! ?¡±

    Ethan watched in fascination as an audible wave of colorful energy bursted forward, before rebounding off of all nearby solid surfaces, creating a colorful sea of bouncing sound waves.

    ¡°That was great! Now, let¡¯s try Hyper Voice!

    Chatot lowered her posture and held out her wings to the side in preparation for the move. She heaved in a tremendous breath, and her filled lungs caused a visible expansion of her chest. Her feathers ruffled, and then she screamed. ¡°CHAAAAAAAAAAAAA¡±

    A torrent of sound blasted forward at the speed¡­ of well, sound. The branches of the faraway trees shook violently, and vibrant green leaves fell in droves. The dirt in front of her vibrated and caused a film of smokey dirt to rise off the earth.

    Ethan had to cover his ears to block out the nearly deafening noise, and he wasn¡¯t even in the path of the sound waves. He never wanted to be in the path of the sound waves.

    Chatot stopped screaming, and took in a few heaving breaths. She looked to be winded, and Ethan couldn¡¯t blame her. That was much more powerful than he was expecting.

    Yeah¡­ Boomburst wasn¡¯t going to happen. He was scared of not only the power, but of what the detriments would be to his pokemon. Hyper Voice was a powerful move. He didn¡¯t remember exactly how strong it was, but it was one of the better ones. As Chatot was a dual typed Flying and Normal pokemon, normal and flying moves had boosted power, thanks to the same type attack bonus.

    So what kind of damage would Boomburst do? He¡¯d save that for when times were desperate, or until he was sure that Chatot wouldn¡¯t hurt herself with the attempt.

    Ethan let Chatot recover, which surprisingly only took a few seconds, before asking a question. ¡°Go ahead and show me your favorite move!¡±

    Chatot hopped to turn towards him, and Ethan nearly fell over laughing from the move he was subject to.

    She started to babble in a rhythmic tune, looking like she was excitedly chatting someone''s ear off. ¡°? Cha-Chaaaaat! ¡°? Chaa-tooot! ?¡ª? Cha-Chaaaaat! ¡°? Chaa-tooot!  ? Cha-Cha-Cha ? Cha-Cha-Cha ?¡±

    This was obviously Chatter, Chatot¡¯s signature move. It was no surprise that it was her favorite, given that their species were the only ones able to use it. Ethan gazed about and gave a warm smile as there weren''t any weird colors or special effects. He¡¯d assume she hadn¡¯t actually used the move, as that would hurt him, but she was doing it as a demonstration.

    ¡°Of course you¡¯d like the move only you can do.¡± Ethan laughed as Chatot fluttered through the air to land on his shoulder. She nuzzled into his head, as Ethan walked off to go shopping.

    ¡°As a reward for showing me what you can do, I¡¯ll let you pick out something nice¡­ If I can afford it.¡±

 Chapter 11

    Standing in between the cluttered and filled aisles of a hidden away thrift store, Ethan stared dubiously at the item Chatot wouldn''t stop chattering about. Chatot clambered down his arm, careful to not injure Ethan with her talons, then pecked the small rectangular device in his hands.

    *Tick* *Tick* *Tick* *Tick* *Tick* *Tick*

    Chatot watched with curious eyes as the metronome''s metallic pendulum clicked and clacked back and forth. Her tail ever so slowly began wagging in sync with the swinging, and she bopped her head every time it made a sound.

    "? tot-tot-tot-tot-tot-tot ?"

    "Are you sure this is what you want?" Ethan asked with a slight smile, already knowing the answer.

    "? Chaa-tooot! ?"

    Ethan stored the metronome into his shopping basket, then continued sweeping through the chaotic assortment of items. This store had a bit of everything. It was all filled with used or outdated items, but they all appeared functional, and Ethan doubted teaching a singular move to a pokemon made him wealthy. The thrift store was his first destination.

    He grabbed a few spare sets of clothes, a belt that had a clip for pokeballs, and a large gym bag to store all of his stuff. Chatot pecked at random items, and kept trying to put more stuff into his little basket, and Ethan repeatedly and casually snuck them out and put them back onto the shelves nearby.

    When Ethan finished shopping, he strolled up to the cashier who stared at him with a singular raised brow. "No offense my guy, but I don''t know if that hat suits you."

    Ethan calmly took the sailor hat Chatot had just finished placing on his head and put it back onto the nearby hatrack. "I agree."

    All of his purchases came out to the total of $2100. Which, if he accounted for the fact that pokemon was a game originating from japan, and that pokedollars were roughly the equivalent of the Japanese yen¡­ it amounted to his idea of around $21 USD. A pretty good deal for what he''d grabbed.

    Next, Ethan went around the city looking for a place to buy cooking supplies. He mostly needed pots, pans, and utensils. Hopefully, he could even scrounge up some seeds as well. He quickly found what he needed at a few different stores, and it had cost him a pretty penny. He walked out of a culinary store with his cooking tools, and several bags of rice seeds, and a few seed packets for a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. He picked up some actual produce to practice preparing meals as well. It had cost him over $13,000, but in his mind, it was a necessary expense. He''d forgotten what it felt like to start from nothing.

    On his way back toward the Pokemon Center, he passed by another famous building¡ªA Pokemart. The building looked just like he''d imagined. A small, clean, and sleek, white and blue convenience store. It had a large sign out front that had a rotating pokeball on top as an advertisement, and he figured he might as well look around.

    As he walked inside and gazed around, Ethan realized that this might have been the cleanest store he''d ever walked into. The linoleum floor glistened and reflected the lights from up above. Steel shelves, neatly stocked with various bags of Pokemon food and bottles of supplements, shined as if polished, and the teenage cashier stood with a straight back and held a smile as she watched him gawk.

    After perusing down a few of the aisles, he learned a lot. Each type of pokemon had specific types of pokechow pertaining to them. Fire types canines, electric type canines, plant grass types¡­ the whole lot. He read the ingredients listed on a few of the bags, and saw roughly the same list of ingredients as the standard recipe he''d seen online. Lots of complicated, unrepeatable ingredients.

    In another aisle, rows and rows of grooming kits hung upon shelves, and each section had cute chibi-esque pictures of pokemon plastered around it. He found a section for bird pokemon, which had a picture of a Starly and Pidgey smiling, and grabbed a grooming kit. Chatot saw the picture of the Starly, and gave him a minor heart attack.

    "Star-Starly!" Chatot chirped, mimicking the pokemon with startling accuracy. He''d have to get used to that.

    Ethan chuckled as he moved on, coming across something he thought was impossible¡ªSilph Co, bags. The fabled dimensional bags from the games. They looked sleek and came in many different forms and colors. Some came in a side-carry travel bag, others a simple pouch which could hang from a belt. The one that looked like a large backpack was the cheapest, but they were all severely out of his price range. The cheapest one, a brown stereotypical looking backpack, was 200k, which would be $2000 USD.

    Maybe in the future. Ethan thought as he came up to the register with his grooming kit.

    As the woman rang up his purchase, he stared at the various pokeballs held behind and inside the glass countertop. It was then that Ethan discovered he was worse at the games than he''d thought, as he was unaware of most of the different types of pokeballs on display. While he could point out a few of them, some of them were completely foreign to him. There was, of course, the standard Pokeballs, Great balls, Ultra balls, Premiere balls, and Luxury balls, but also a wide variety of specialty pokeballs.

    Fortunately, the names and prices were right next to each other, so he could identify them. There were Dive balls, Heavy balls, Love balls, Lure balls, Net balls¡­ a whole world of different pokeballs which were vaguely familiar.

    The prices varied, but none of them were cheap. A standard Pokeball would run him 10k, nearly one third of what he had left.

    While he was bad at the games, he had learned that traveling without any spare pokeballs was a fools errand, and so he quickly asked for two standard pokeballs as well.

    Ethan walked out of the Pokemart with roughly a fifth of what he''d started with, a happy Chatot, and supplies for becoming self-sufficient on his plot of land. So, he considered today''s shopping a win.

    Chatot stared and sang at those he passed, and those with their pokemon out and about flashed her a smile and a little wave¡ªtheir pokemon doing the same.

    "? Chaa-tooot! ?"

    To Ethan''s surprise, everyone''s eyes seemed to linger on Chatot. Curiously, he peered around and examined those he passed, and watched them merely glance at most of the other pokemon around them.

    Is Chatot that uncommon? Ethan mused.

    He hadn''t seen another Chatot so far, but they were from Sinnoh if he remembered correctly. They shouldn''t be that uncommon of a sight. There were some people with foreign pokemon with them, and they also got some lingering stares, so maybe Chatot just wasn''t a popular choice. They were missing out.

    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    Once back at the Pokemon Center, Ethan returned Chatot into her ball, and called up Agent Looker from his phone. It rang twice, then the serious, no nonsense voice of Agent Looker sprang into his ears. "L, speaking."

    Ethan coughed awkwardly, not expecting him to be so serious. "Hi¡­ L? It''s Ethan Reed."

    "Oh, Ethan, what can I do for you?" The serious voice was gone, replaced with casual conversation.

    "I was calling to ask about some of the finer details about setting up my clearing¡ªOnce I get permission, of course."

    "Do you have concerns?" Looker asked.

    "No, no. I just wanted to know about a time schedule. Say, if I get permission, how long until your people arrive to build the house, do all of the plumbing and whatnot, set up the fencing¡­ Those kinds of things. I''ve been making preparations of my own, but getting back to my clearing is the first hurdle. I''m planning to start heading there tomorrow."

    There was a second of silence, before Looker spoke again. "Have you got yourself a pokemon already?"

    Ethan smiled as he took a seat in an empty chair in the lobby, draping his shoulder over the back of the empty seat next to him. "Yup! I didn''t find her, she found me! She''s a Chatot! We haven''t been together long, but I have faith that I''ll be fine during my travels. By the way, do you know how long the trip to my clearing will take? I''ll be going on foot."

    "Hmm. Two or three days I would guess. Closer to three, if I''m being completely honest with you. I''m glad you found yourself a partner, Ethan. You sound very happy, and I''m sure your Chatot will protect you should the need arise. As for your clearing, give me a call once you get permission. I''ve already begun preparations for finding a company willing to head out there to build what you need. I don''t know how quickly building was¡­ where you''re from¡­ but it should take a few days to have everything up and ready. The biggest issue will be flying materials there, but we''ll cover the costs. Did you have anything else for me, Ethan?"

    Ethan hummed in thought as he idly tapped his fingers on his armchair. "I think that''s it. Thanks for your help. I''ll call in a few days."

    "I''ll be waiting." *Click*

    Ethan watched as people came and went, observing the pokemon and trainers hover about the busy lobby. He swung himself out of his seat and left for the cafeteria section of the center to practice his cooking. If he could help it, he and Chatot will eat food fit for kings and queens on their trip!

    <hr>

    "In my defense¡­" Ethan started, but got a chastising wing upside the head and an unfamiliar low pokemon growl from Chatot.

    Ethan sighed as he looked down at the¡­ slop he''d created. On Earth, on the very rare occasion Ethan attempted to make rice, he''d had a rice cooker on standby. Without one, he was flying blind. Ethan grabbed his brand new pot, walked over towards the trash, dumped out the contents, then walked back to his little cooking area.

    The Pokemon Center had miniature kitchens for those who wanted to prepare their pokemon''s meals, but he''d never seen someone use one yet. He''d honestly thought that he would be successful at the start, but quickly, he learned that cooking wasn''t as easy as some people made it seem. Ethan scrubbed away the blackened rice, which clung to the sides of his pot like barnacles on a ship, with contempt as he tried to remember if kings and queens ate salads.

    As he scrubbed, a digital voice drew his attention.

    "Chatot - The Music Note Pokemon. With its human-like tongue, Chatot has the uncanny ability to mimic not only human speech but also the calls of other pokemon, often confusing would-be predators. Chatot''s are known for their musical acumen. When in the wild, groups of Chatot can be heard singing in harmony, creating a melodic sound that resonates through their tropical forest''s canopy. Chatot is the only known pokemon capable of using the move Chatter, which damages, dazes, and confuses those who hear its call."

    "? Chaa-tooot! ?" Chatot sang.

    Turning around, Ethan saw an older teen holding his phone up with the camera directed at Chatot. "Uhh¡­"

    The kid lowered his phone as he read whatever was now on its screen. Ethan coughed, causing the kid to jerk in surprise and finally realize that he''d drawn Ethan''s attention. He pointed. "Is that a pokedex?"

    The kid quickly dismissed that notion with a frantic wave of his hands. "Sorry! Sorry, no. It''s an app that''s like it though! It''s pretty neat. It''s called PocketDex. I thought I''d give it a try. Sorry."

    Ethan raised a brow. "No, it''s fine. I was just surprised."

    After a quick scan, he didn''t find any pokemon that looked to be the kids partner, but he noticed two pokeballs on the kid''s hip. "Doing the gym circuit?"

    The kid looked to be around sixteen, which was the legal age for going on your journey. After a quick nod, the kid patted the balls on his hip. "Yup! I got two badges so far! I''m waiting for my battle with Gardenia. Then, I''ll have my third! I''ve never seen a Chatot before¡­ Are they strong?"

    Ethan nodded. "Any pokemon can be strong."

    The kid looked dubious at that statement, and Ethan waved to encourage him to speak. "You''re telling me Magikarp can be strong?"

    Ethan placed his now clean pot onto the countertop and turned to face the kid fully. "Sure am. Teach a Magikarp Flail and train it to withstand some attacks. Not to mention, once it eventually evolves into Gyarados, it''ll be a force of nature. If I was ever to fight a battle in the water, I''d choose Magikarp over, say, a Geodude."

    To the kids'' credit, he did pause and think about what Ethan said. "Huh¡­ I never thought about it that way."

    Ethan wasn''t the pokemon master, but he at least could give some life advice. "Don''t worry so much about which pokemon are strong and which pokemon are weak. Think about why, when, and where each pokemon would do better than others. Also, think about their abilities outside of battling. Take Chansey for an example¡ªthey can do fine in a battle, but they''re also the partners of Nurse Joy''s across the world and there''s a reason for that¡­ but I''ll leave that for you to figure out."

    "Huh¡­" The kid blinked owlishly at him, surprise coloring his face. "You''ve given me a lot to think about¡­ Thanks."

    Ethan waved him off. "No problem, good luck on your badges."

    The kid started to walk away, but noticed Ethan taking out another bag of rice and filling his pot with water. He coughed, grabbing Ethans attention. "Wash the rice until the water runs clear, then use one and a half cups of water per cup of rice. Bring it to a boil, cover it and reduce the heat to low. Let it simmer until it''s tender, then you''re done."

    Ethan looked from the kid to the pot, then back to the kid. "Mind writing that down?"

 Chapter 12

    The next morning, after saying his goodbyes to Nurse Joy, Ethan stood with his duffle bag filled with his supplies as he stared around at the outskirts of Eterna City. Chatot was perched on her usual spot on his shoulder, and she quietly chirped as she inspected her new surroundings.

    While Eterna City was near Eterna Forest, he still had a fair amount of distance to travel to arrive at its boundaries.

    Ethan walked at a leisurely pace as he began his trek down the dirt road, leaving the mostly rocky terrain Eterna City was built upon, and entering the lowlands, where a wide, winding river flowed.

    All kinds of different people were out and about. Some were leaving the city, just like him, with excited faces and looks of determination. Some carried fishing gear, and appeared as though they were going through the motions of their daily lives. Those approaching the city looked rough and ragged, with branches stuck in their hair and dirt and grime caking their outdoorsy clothes, but each of their faces told a story. They were all filled with relief and hope, with wide smiles as their eyes locked onto the safe-haven and comfortable beds that awaited them in the city above.

    Of the many things Ethan liked about this world, the best was the pokemon. While that may seem obvious, he was sure that his reasons differed from many others who find themselves in his position. The pure wholesome, unfiltered emotions when a human and their partners share looks with one another. The excitement and joy of making it to their next destination, and being successful in their goals was something that you couldn''t find on Earth.

    Their partners looked just as excited as the trainers. Some of them were excited for rest, but many of them looked to be happy because their trainer was happy. These were the sights he would never forget.

    As he slowly made his way down the beaten path, toward a wide and sturdy wooden bridge that spanned the width of the river below, he used his phone to scan some of the unfamiliar pokemon who were out and about. Some of them belonged to trainers, but a few of them were out in the nearby, wavy and billowing tallgrass or up in the vibrant bushy leaves of a nearby tree.

    If he ever found that kid again, he''d need to thank him for telling him about this app.

    The first pokemon he sneakily scanned was a three foot tall, green humanoid pokemon with pure white skin, which was coated with leaves and flowers. It looked like it was wearing a billowing dress fit for fae royalty, and on the top of its leafy green head, a large orange flower sprouted, causing it to look like a massive hat. In the center of the flower, the stamen poked out from above, giving the hat the appearance of a golden crown. It held onto its trainer''s hand with a plant-like arm as they hurriedly walked toward the city with one another.

    "Lilligant ¡ª the Flowering Pokemon: Lilligant is the evolved form of Petilil, and emits a calming fragrance that soothes emotions and encourages tranquility. While rarely found in the wild, when found, they are often dancing gracefully in flower fields while using its petals to attract pollinators. The large flower atop its head is its status symbol, appearing beautiful and smelling fragrant when Lilligant is healthy, or wilted and pungent when Lilligant is neglected."

    Ethan smiled at them as they passed. The Lilligant''s flower was pristine and vibrant, obviously well taken care of. They didn''t spare him a glance, hyper focused on the comfort that awaited them from the city up above.

    Next, Ethan scanned a wild pokemon. It was vaguely familiar, but he wasn''t exactly sure what it was. Nonetheless, it looked playful and cute as it played with its friends and family in the river. Splashing water at one another and dipping and diving beneath the surface to dodge the sprays from its playmates.

    It looked like an orange otter with two tails, and a circular floatation device around its neck.

    "Buizel ¡ª The Sea Weasel Pokemon: Buizel''s inflatable floatation sac, located around its neck, enables it to float atop bodies of water, and rise from the dark depths with ease. With its twin tails, which act as propellers, it is swift and agile in waters. Buizel are known for being playful and can often be seen showcasing their swimming prowess to any onlookers. Fishermen flock to Buizel''s presence, as the appearance of one indicates clean abundant waters."

    Chatot watched the various Buizel play with a tilted head, curiosity evident in her lingering gaze.

    Ethan crossed the bridge, saying his greetings to the fishermen who cast their poles over the sides, and then stared at the dark entrance to Eterna Forest.

    The thick canopy of the trees blocked the majority of the sunlight from shining through onto the forest floor. As a result, it created the dark spooky atmosphere that enveloped most of the forest.

    Ethan was used to seeing the forest since he had spent a year there already, but it was still quite a sight to behold. "Well, Chatot. Are you ready for a little adventure? Our future home is in this forest."

    "? Chaa-tooot! ?" Chatot bobbed her head in anticipation, not put off in the slightest by the scary-spooky atmosphere.

    Without further ado, Ethan calmly walked down the small dirt trail and entered Eterna Forest.

    <hr>

    A few hours later.?

    Ethan unwrapped and took a large bite of his best attempt at making an Onigiri from the night before. He''d filled the center with a sweet bean paste and he could confidently say that it was better than eating berries. It was a weird thought, but this was the first time he''d eaten anything other than berries in the forest, even though he''d been in here for about a year.

    As he ate, he watched Chatot flutter about the nearby trees. He had made sure she knew not to leave his sight for too long, but during their leisurely walk, she occasionally disappeared into the forest for a minute or two, causing him to worry slightly, before returning with berry juice dripping down her beak.

    While they were traveling, they bumped into some wild pokemon and trainers who wanted to battle. For the wild pokemon, he gave Chatot the choice to battle, but said no to the trainers right away. He had faith in Chatot holding her own against the wild pokemon nearby, and it would be good practice for both him and her in case they ever truly needed to fight. He said no to the trainers because they all wanted a doubles battle for some reason, and he only had Chatot for now.

    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

    Chatot had surpassed his expectations when it came to battling, and she seemed eager to test herself against the new pokemon she encountered. Ethan had learned one thing throughout the day¡ªChatter was absolutely busted.

    At the start of every battle, Ethan had Chatot use her favorite move, Chatter, to discombobulate her opponents right off the bat. After that, he only gave orders when Chatot didn''t seem to know what to do, but that was a fairly rare occurrence. He didn''t enjoy battling nearly as much as Chatot did, but he''d battle while he had the time if that''s what she wanted to do.

    He had a little nagging worry that Chatot wouldn''t be satisfied with not battling all the time. After seeing her enthusiasm for it, a bit of fear, worry, and unease edged into his mind, but after a quick heart to heart discussion, Chatot was more than okay with battling for fun, and not super seriously. That was a weight off his shoulders, and from then on out, he had no more dark thoughts about Chatot abandoning him.

    "? Chaa-tooot! ?" Chatot landed in front of him and pecked at his duffle bag in an attempt to pilfer some of his stored food.

    "Haven''t you eaten enough berries to starve this forest?!" Ethan exaggerated and mocked his bird.

    "? Chaa-tooot! ?" She was undeterred and eventually dragged out another Onigiri onto the ground. Ethan laughed, leaned over, and unwrapped it for her. Chatot gobbled up the Onigiri in less than a minute, before fluttering back up into a nearby tree to scan their vicinity while singing. "? Chaa-tooot! "? Chaa-Chaa-Chaa-tooot! Chaa-tooot-tooot! ?"

    Ethan listened to his partner sing with closed eyes for a minute or two, before sighing and packing up his things. During his haste to return to his clearing, he had forgotten some vital pieces of equipment¡ªAnything for shelter.

    He did not bring a tent, sleeping bag, hammock¡­ anything to get him through the night. So, just like when he first arrived, he was going to have a few days of restless and cold nights. At least his sudden arrival all that time ago had given him a little bit of experience for what was to come.

    After walking until the sun had fully set, casting the forest into a near pitch black void. Ethan put his back up against a nearby tree and used his duffle bag as a cushion. Chatot flew up and settled herself on a nearby branch, and fluttered her wings before closing her eyes to go to sleep.

    In another two days, he''d be back to where it all began¡­ and he was weirdly looking forward to it. Ethan closed his eyes, listening to the familiar sounds of the night-time forest, as he drifted off into a deep slumber.

    <hr>

    Cynthia walked into the Eterna City pokemon center once Nurse Joy texted to let her know no trainers were in the lobby.

    Despite being a proud champion, she couldn''t handle all the constant attention. She did not want to be swarmed by eager, aspiring trainers, only to mutter rudely about being on duty and blowing them off. It was bad for her image, and disheartening for those on their journey. It was better this way.

    Nurse Joy waved quickly, directing her into the back of the Pokemon Center. She strutted down the familiar hallways and went into the meeting room where Agent Looker had been waiting patiently.

    Cynthia took off her signature black overcoat and hung it on her seat before sitting down and getting down to business. "Any updates about Team Galactic?"

    Nurse Joy sat down next to her, inserting herself into the conversation. Her normally cheerful demeanor faded away as the pokemon protector emerged, ready to hear any information about those who mistreated their pokemon.

    Looker nodded and flipped open a folder, reading through its contents. "We''ve confirmed that one of their operations is here in Eterna City. We''ve infiltrated the premises to gather information about their future plans, and to see if it lines up with any of the information Mr. Reed has provided. In Veilstone, it appears that Team Galactic hasn''t yet moved into their supposed headquarters. We''re keeping an eye on potential buyers or changes in administration to the company who currently owns the property."

    "What are they currently doing here in Eterna? I hope you''re not sitting idle while they harm pokemon¡­" Nurse Joy glared at Looker.

    "Not yet, not here. They have various researchers gathering information about the Lake Guardians and the possible construction of the Red Chain. From what we know, they''re still very far away from attempting their plans, and that also lines up with the information Mr. Reed provided."

    Cynthia tapped her fingers on the table. "Has Interpol contacted the other regions to inform them of potential terrorist activities going on? There were other ''teams'', correct?"

    Looker closed his folder, and steepled his hands. "Officially, I''m not authorized to tell you about the matters of other regions. Unofficially, yes. They''re handling it." He smirked.

    Cynthia looked at Nurse Joy as she flipped her hair back. "Ethan has left for Eterna Forest. Is there anything you''d like to bring up here about his activities in the last few days?"

    "Nothing out of the ordinary. Ethan cares deeply for his Chatot, and has been researching information about¡­ basically everything here on the lobby''s computer. He''s decided to become a vegetarian, which is admirable, and has begun looking up recipes and dietary plans for various pokemon. He has a lot to learn, but I''m very impressed with his drive. I think he will be a fine tutor and breeder and see no problems popping up in the future. He''ll fit in well."

    Cynthia nodded along as she listened. "Definitely different, but not in a bad way. I think he has great potential. Teaching a pokemon a move in a single day is a fantastic start, but we''ll have to see if that was a one off. I''m excited to see what he''s capable of, but we need to keep his involvement and background a secret."

    Cynthia checked her pokegear, grimacing at the time. She stood and began grabbing her coat.

    "Looker, give him what he needs, but make sure it''s off the record. I''ll make sure he gets natural recognition."

    As she left the room, she spoke over her shoulder. Her tone, cold but filled with confidence. "Call me if and when you raid their bases. I''ll be there."

 Chapter 13

    When Ethan was stranded in the forest, he had assumed that he¡¯d already seen all the pokemon that called Eterna Forest home. Many different types of pokemon had visited his little patch of land; either for the berries or for curiously spying on the weird human, so he¡¯d seen his fair share of pokemon. He¡¯d seen Murkrow, Geodude, Teddiursa, Ursaring, Pachirisu, Oddish, Hoppip, Starly, Wurmple, and Hoothoots, along with some others which he wasn¡¯t familiar with.

    But he was wrong for assuming.

    As he made his way along the well-beaten path of Route 205, Ethan came across many pokemon that he¡¯d never seen around his clearing. The first of which he got a good look at was a sloth¡ªA Slakoth.

    The slow, unaware, sleepy-looking brown sloth steadily climbed a nearby tree with its long gangly arms. Its half-lidded eyes and consistent content smile gave off the impression that it didn¡¯t have a worry in the world.

    ¡°Slakoth ¡ª The Slacker Pokemon: Slakoth spends nearly its entire day lying motionless in trees, conserving energy for survival. Doing so enables it to go several days without the need for food. When it does move, it does so sluggishly, typically only to find fresh leaves or berries to eat. Despite its lethargic appearance, Slakoth is surprisingly strong and can cling to trees with little effort.¡±

    When Ethan lowered his phone after taking a picture, he noticed that Slakoth¡¯s eyes were closed. When he looked up, he discovered that it had dozed off while climbing the tree, releasing gentle, nearly inaudible snores in the process.

    Chatot fluttered up to the branch above Slakoth, tilting her head confusedly at the slumbering slacker pokemon.

    ¡°Let them be Chatot. Let¡¯s get going,¡± Ethan whispered as he continued down the path. Chatot spent a few more seconds hopping side to side, inspecting the Slakoth. Once finished with her curiosity, she took off from the branch, soaring ahead of him to scout the way. She released a very quiet chirp as she passed him by. ¡°? Chaa-tooot! ?¡±

    The next pokemon he spotted was a shy little thing. A small brown bi-pedal bunny, with one long ear and one rolled up ear, bashfully peered around a thick tree trunk while holding up one stubby hand to cover its mouth. Its black beady eyes scanned him in his entirety before it scampered off back into the forest. This was a pokemon he was familiar with. It was a Buneary. He quickly snapped a photo of its retreating form.

    ¡°Buneary ¡ª The Rabbit Pokemon: Buneary¡¯s sensitive ears can detect even the faintest of sounds. It keeps one ear rolled up to protect itself from loud noises, and to always have a method for attacking or escaping. Buneary¡¯s coiled ears are powerful enough to launch themselves into the air for a quick escape when they aim their heads at the ground. They are careful and cautious, hiding away from those who draw near.¡±

    Ethan watched the pokemon flee with a slight smile before continuing on his way.

    Near the end of the second day, he¡¯d finally stumbled upon the narrow branching path that would take him closer toward his clearing, and stopped running into friendly trainers. Chatot hadn¡¯t been separating from him as much, but she still occasionally went off to find a snack when the mood hit her.

    She was a fiend for berries, always coming back with juices trailing down her beak and upturned, happy eyes sparking at her success. He couldn¡¯t wait to see her reaction to his berry farm.

    As he was now alone with Chatot, he decided that he¡¯d try to teach her some songs to sing. She liked music, that much was readily apparent given her species, but he¡¯d never heard her sing anything longer than a few seconds. Her singing was more akin to a complex birdsong, and he thought that if he taught her how to sing a complex song, then maybe it would help her with her more difficult moves. Most of her moves were sound based, so it sounded like a good idea.

    Ethan waved down his feathered friend from the tree tops, causing her to fly over and settle herself down onto his shoulder. ¡°Do you want to learn some music?¡±

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot! ?¡±

    Chatot bobbed up and down in excitement, her tail beginning to wag back and forth, ready to hear the tempo of the incoming song.

    Ethan laughed as he thought about an easy song to start with. After a few seconds, he decided that The Entertainer by Scott Joplin was a solid choice. Puckering his lips, he gently whistled out the tune, watching Chatot¡¯s reactions the whole time.

    Ethan was pretty good at whistling, and his skill was bearing fruit. Chatot¡¯s tail slowed down, and began wagging to the tempo, helping him keep the pace.

    ¡°? Chaa-toot-toot-toooot-toooooot-toooot-toooooot-toooot-toooooot ?¡±

    She joined in, chirping along with rhythmic and melodic toots as Ethan continued to whistle. She swung her head from side to side as they both created music with one another.

    As Chatot didn¡¯t seem to have any trouble with that song, he moved onto something more complicated¡ªA song with words.

    He waited for Chatot to curb her enthusiasm before speaking. ¡°Okay! Let¡¯s try another one. This one is going to have words, so listen carefully.¡±

    There weren¡¯t many songs he felt comfortable singing, but being from the USA, the national anthem was one he had sung many times before.

    ¡°? Ooooh, say, can you see, ?

    ? By the dawn¡¯s early light¡­ ?¡±

    Ethan sang the whole song, butchering the high notes and causing Chatot to cringe, which only hurt his heart a little bit. Once finished, he watched Chatot tilt her head and wag her tail into different tempos. She was considering what to do.

    Just as Ethan was about to comfort her on not being capable of following along, she started.

    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    ¡°? Say. Can. You. Seeeeee-tot! ?¡±

    Ethan flashed her a big smile as he ducked beneath a branch blocking their path. ¡°Great job! Can you do any more?¡±

    ¡°? Dawn¡¯s¡­ Light! ?¡± Chatot was beginning to struggle, but Ethan reminded her of how it went.

    ¡°? By the dawn¡¯s early light¡­ ?¡±

    They sang until the sun had set, and Ethan did the same as he did before. He sorted through his duffle bag for a late dinner and got himself and Chatot sorted. She didn¡¯t like it when Ethan ate and she did not, even if she had feasted on every berry she could find along the way.

    As Ethan ate, he sat cross legged on the ground with his back against a tree. Chatot, instead of flying up to a nearby branch or onto his shoulder, waddled over and sat down in his lap. She did that weird avian purr as she pecked at the rice Onigiri held within her wings, using them as hands.

    Ethan rested his head against the trunk of the tree and stared up, finding a rare break in the canopy that let him see the stars up above. He¡¯d gazed at them over the last year more than he could count, but he could never find any of the constellations he knew and loved.

    He didn¡¯t know how long he and Chatot sat like that, but after a long while, Ethan¡¯s eyelids felt heavy, and threatened to close. He carefully returned the sleeping Chatot into her ball and fell into a deep slumber.

    ¡ª-----------------------

    The following morning, Ethan and Chatot veered off the road at the spot where his phone-map showed the trail was nearest to his clearing. From here on out, it was all thick forest. It would still take a few hours to reach his clearing, but he was weirdly excited to return. Despite the many terrible, lonely memories tied to the place, he was more than ready to turn it into somewhere he could properly call home. A place where all his future friends could roam about to their leisure, and where they could live their lives at ease.

    Chatot didn¡¯t like veering off the path, as the thick branches and grouped trees hindered her flight, but she didn¡¯t ask to be returned to her ball. She did ruffle her feathers in displeasure, and let Ethan know that she was uncomfortable, though. Actually, now that he thought about it, she hadn¡¯t asked since the first time in the Pokemon Center.

    While it wasn¡¯t a great idea to return his only pokemon in the depths of Eterna Forest, he¡¯d survived a year out here alone. If she wanted to go into her ball, then he was more than willing to take the risk. ¡°Do you want to go back into your ball?¡±

    Chatot thought for merely a second, before shaking her head no.

    ¡°Okay, we''re nearly there, and I think you¡¯ll like what you see.¡±

    After another hour, Ethan started to make out a bright patch of light off in the distance. The shining sun blanketing the light down on a flat grassy plain, with no tree canopy in the way to block its advance.

    He tapped Chatot on the side and pointed forward. ¡°Here we are¡­. Behold!¡±

    Ethan swept his arm out in a grandiose showcase as he left the tree line and stood in the short grassy meadow of his clearing. Chatot¡¯s eyes gazed about the grassy field with intrigue¡­ and then her gaze fell upon the hundreds of berry trees, ripe with plump berries of many different colors, sizes, and flavors.

    Before Ethan could blink, Chatot was zooming across the field. She was quick when she put some effort into it. Ethan watched as she nearly crashed into the closest berry tree. As he jogged across the grassy meadow, he saw leaves, sticks, and branches fall down in a jumbled mess. Then, at last, a berry coated Chatot flew from one tree into the next, causing the same mess.

    Ethan laughed loudly as Chatot found herself in heaven, catching the attention of some other pokemon.

    ¡°Odddddddd.¡±

    ¡°Oddddishhhh.¡±

    ¡°Oddd-oddd-odd.¡±

    Giant puffs of pink particles launched into the air, creating a repeated swooshing to echo across the clearing. The group of seven Oddish who lived with him for many, many months¡­moved.

    He had seen them move twice in his long stay. Once, when they first arrived and settled down, and another when the first of their kind learned Sunny Day. At that time, they got up and did a circular, celebratory dance around their companion, but this time, they were walking toward him.

    All seven Oddish waddled hurriedly and with happiness in his direction. Ethan carelessly dropped his duffle bag and knelt down, embracing the first Oddish who launched itself into him.

    ¡°Oddd-Odddishhh.¡±

    Then, the other six Oddish surged forward, knocking him over as they clambered on top of him. More and more puffs of Sweet Scent erupted into the air, signaling their happiness at his return, and Ethan started to tear up.

    ¡°I missed you, too,¡± He eventually managed to stammer out.

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot ? tot-tot-tot! ?¡± Chatot landed next to him, absolutely coated in berry juice, causing her to look even more colorful than she was before, as Ethan managed to escape the dog-pile of Oddish.

    He scanned the clearing, searching for the Hoppip and lone Skiploom, but they were nowhere to be seen. At first, he was saddened by the thought of them moving on. But after a second of thought, he smiled.

    They had finally left the clearing, just like he had. They were floating about somewhere, off toward their next destination, going where the winds took them. He wished them the best.

    After the Oddish had calmed down, and Chatot realized that being covered in sticky berry juice wasn¡¯t as good as it sounded, Ethan grabbed his bag and walked off toward his small, roughly made wooden cabin.

    The inside was mostly unchanged, but a few of the berries he had sorted and stockpiled were missing. It wasn¡¯t that big of a deal, and frankly, he would have been surprised if they were still there.

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot? ?¡±

    Hearing the questioning song from Chatot from outside, Ethan threw his duffle bag on the ground and went to go see what she found.

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot? ?¡±

    He followed the sound of her song and found her midway through one of the many rows of berry trees, pecking at something on the ground. She had her back toward him, so he couldn¡¯t see what she found, but as he got within a few feet, he immediately took a few steps back.

    ¡°Chatot¡­! Get the hell away from it¡­!¡± He tried to urge in a hushed tone.

    Chatot heeded his words with confusion, hopping backwards a few steps to stand by his side. Thankfully, Ethan had recognized the pokemon she was disturbing.

    On the ground surrounded by a bunch of fallen berries, a foot-wide red rock with five yellow ridged holes lay flat on the ground. He had no idea how this pokemon found its way into his clearing, but he knew what had attracted it¡ªhis berries.

    Ethan might have been bad at the games, but even he knew not to look down upon this particular pokemon.

    ¡°Chatot, listen to me carefully¡­ Don''t fu¡ªmess with a Shuckle.¡±

 Chapter 14

    ¡°... It¡¯s sitting there, ominously,¡± Ethan said nervously, his phone held up to his ear as he paced back and forth in between the vibrant green leaves and colorful berries of his trees.

    Agent Looker didn¡¯t seem to take any of his concerns seriously, even when he knew the tales from having been there during the memory link. ¡°Ethan, it¡¯s just a Shuckle. They¡¯re rare, but not all powerful. What are the odds of a wild Shuckle having the niche combination of moves you¡¯re worried about, and knowing exactly how to use them in combination with one another? While I understand your concern, you¡¯re not in any danger. Can we talk about more important matters? Have you asked Ursaring for permission yet?¡±

    Ethan slowed in his pacing. His worry was finally beginning to fade away, and his rapidly beating heart slowly calmed down to a more normal rhythm¡­ Then, a bright yellow tendril ever so slowly exited one Shuckle¡¯s holes, feeling its way blindly around the ground.

    ¡°Oh, dear god. It¡¯s moving, Looker!¡± Ethan muttered in hushed tones.

    *Click*

    ¡°Looker? Hello?¡± Ethan looked at his phone, saw the ¡®Call Ended.¡¯ screen flicker back to the home screen, then gingerly put his phone into his pocket.

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot? ?¡± Chatot hopped back over toward the Shuckle, causing Ethan¡¯s hand to reach out to try and pull her back to safety. She dipped beneath his hand, easily evading his attempt, and then pecked at the Shuckle¡¯s shell once again.

    ¡°Shuuuuckle.¡± The nasally, drawn out voice of Shuckle echoed out from within its hardened shell, causing Chatot to stop with her investigation.

    She went over toward some ripe, fallen berries and nudged them over toward one of Shuckle¡¯s many holes. After she was done, she hopped back a few feet and began chatting with the new, unfamiliar pokemon.

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot? ? tot-tot? ?¡±

    ¡°Shuckle-ckle?¡±

    ¡°? Tot! ?¡±

    Out of Shuckle¡¯s holes, thin yellow worm-like appendages slowly revealed themselves. The thicker one sprouting out near the top was its head. Its eyes were just two thin strips of brown, and its mouth was similar. It was a near invisible slit that parted slightly when he talked.

    ¡°Shuck?¡±

    Shuckle gazed around carefully and suspiciously to get his bearings, then spotted the berry that had been rolled over toward him, courtesy of Chatot. His thin yellow arm stretched outward and wrapped around the small, apple-like Leppa berry and withdrew it into his shell.

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot! Chatot''s cheerful chirping and twinkling gaze made Shuckle''s small mouth curl into a slight smile, and his eyes narrowed happily.

    By now, Ethan had realized that perhaps he had been overreacting. Shuckle didn¡¯t look very threatening, and its movements were fairly slow¡ªabout twice as fast as a turtle. He knew of Shuckle because of how they had the potential to be the highest damage dealing Pokemon in existence. He also knew that they liked berries and stored them in their shell. They turned the berries into a juice, but he wasn¡¯t too familiar with the specifics of said juice.

    Shuckle retreated into his shell, then a moment later, came out of several different holes that had been hidden from Ethan¡¯s sight, given his angle. It had effectively turned itself around, and once happy with its position, used its thin wormy arms to lift itself up and crawl toward more berries.

    Now, with a much better look, Ethan could see that Shuckle had eight different holes in his shell. Ethan took out his phone and used the PocketDex to scan the pokemon as he continued to gather berries. Chatot had hopped on top of Shuckle, effectively riding him, so it took a few attempts to have the app scan Shuckle instead of Chatot.

    ¡°Shuckle ¡ª The Mold Pokemon: Shuckle keeps its soft body protected within its hard shell. It loves berries and stores them inside its shell, where they slowly ferment and turn into a delicious juice which it sips when hungry. This fermenting process can take weeks, and the resulting juice is highly nutritious. Despite its slow and docile nature, Shuckle''s shell is remarkably strong, providing unparalleled defense against predators. The color of Shuckle¡¯s ridge rings, which form over its many different outlet holes, are an indicator of its age. They¡¯re yellow when young, and beige when mature."

    After putting away his phone, Ethan watched Chatot and Shuckle traverse around his berry farm. Gone was much of Shuckle¡¯s careful and cautious behavior. Now, it was smiling warmly at Chatot as she chattered away. As she talked his ear-holes off, she probed nearby berries towards it. To Ethan, it looked like she was showing Shuckle all of her favorites.

    While he was still a little apprehensive about Shuckle, he was smart enough to know that it was purely illogical. The Shuckle seemed harmless and friendly, and became more excited as the two pokemon discussed berries. He wouldn¡¯t mind Shuckle staying around. It could maybe even ferment some of his berries for him! If the information from PocketDex was correct, then the nutritional value would be a boon to him in the future. It¡¯s not like he was going to run out of berries anytime soon, and he had more than enough to spare.

    As Shuckle¡¯s outlet ridges were yellow, that meant that it was young. He remembered that Shuckle typically lived in caves or deep underground, causing him to wonder about how it found its way into the forest, but supposed that they must leave to find food like every other pokemon.

    Thinking about the environments pokemon lived in made Ethan think about the future of his ranch. If he was going to breed and foster pokemon to teach them moves, he was going to need separate areas with different faux climates and terrains. As it was, he couldn¡¯t really teach a pokemon from the ocean anything, as he had no bodies of water. The same went for fire types, ice types, rock types¡­ He had a lot of work ahead of him.

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    ¡°Hey, Shuckle,¡± Ethan said casually as he walked up and picked a large yellow berry from a nearby tree. ¡°You¡¯re free to hang around here and have as many berries as you want, and if you want to meet some more friendly pokemon, there¡¯s a group of Oddish right up by my cabin. They won¡¯t hurt you.¡±

    He knelt down and offered the larger freshly picked berry with an outstretched hand. Shuckle looked a little unsure about him, but after some friendly chirps and songs from Chatot, it delicately outstretched its noodle arm and wrapped it around the offering. Like the other berries, it didn¡¯t bother to eat it. Instead, it stored it inside its shell.

    ¡°As long as you don¡¯t harm any pokemon nearby, you¡¯re free to stay as long as you like. I have to get going, but I''d be happy if you¡¯re here when I return.¡±

    Ethan stood and patted his shoulder, causing Chatot to flutter up and join him. ¡°Let¡¯s go find Ursaring and do what we came here to do.¡±

    Chatot nodded and looked down toward Shuckle.

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot! ?¡±

    ¡°Shuck!¡±

    Shuckle''s noodly arm waved with hesitation and unfamiliarity. It almost looked as if it was questioning the reality of the situation, but it still had a small smile tugging at its mouth.

    Chatot fanned her wings in a weirdly energetic wave as Ethan headed off into the forest once more. He needed to find Ursaring.

    <hr>

    In hindsight, it was probably wrong to assume that he¡¯d be able to find Ursaring within a short amount of time. He didn¡¯t know where she usually roamed or stayed, and finding a singular pokemon in miles upon miles of thick trees, rough underbrush, and filled with other wild pokemon was a task fit for a ranger.

    Thankfully, he had Chatot.

    Chatot soared overtop the thick canopy, singing a loud melodic tune as she twirled and danced through the sky. He had asked her to try and catch Ursaring''s attention, and she was going above and beyond to produce results. Normal calls were not her forte. She preferred to sing for all to hear.

    Within thirty minutes of hatching their plan, a loud, thunderous, familiar roar erupted from up ahead of them. Chatot dived through the thick batches of leaves and branches that blocked the view from up above, causing a cascade of twirling leaves to rain down upon Ethan. With a casual landing, she righted herself onto his shoulder, and settled down to rest in her designated spot.

    After feeding her a few berries as a reward, which she devoured with reckless abandon, the sounds of snapping branches, thudding paws, and cute growls grabbed his attention.

    When he looked over toward the direction the sounds emanated from, he nearly had a heart attack. Ursaring stared at him from around a tree, merely a scant few feet away. He hadn¡¯t heard her move, or realized that she had gotten so close. From out behind her, two cutely growling Teddiursa stormed into the clearing with arms raised in battle cries.

    When their eyes landed on Ethan, their growls of intimidation quickly converted into cries of happiness. Their hands, which formerly raised for the oncoming mortal combat, were now making grabby gestures for him to pick them up as they sprinted towards him.

    The first launched themselves in an impressive leap, smacking into his torso and wrapping their arms around him in a bear hug. The second nearly caused his feet to fly out from under him, as they slammed into his legs, giving him a hug.

    ¡°Teddiii!¡±

    ¡°Ted-ted!¡±

    ¡°Urs.¡± Ursaring gave him a nod and a grunt, then came out around the tree to stand next to him. Ursaring noticed Chatot, who was well aware of the threat standing before her, given by her quaking feathers, and dismissed her nearly immediately.

    Ethan ran his one free hand down her plumage and told her that everything was okay. It took over ten seconds for Chatot to calm down enough to tear her eyes away from Ursaring to look him in the eyes.

    ¡°Ursa. Ursaring.¡± Ursaring commented, and apparently whatever said was enough for her to stop shaking.

    ¡°Cha-tot-tot¡­¡± She sullenly chirped.

    Ursaring shrugged, then looked at Ethan, waving a paw to get him to speak. As if saying, ¡®Out with it.¡¯

    After a slight cough to clear his throat, he lowered the Teddiursa to the ground and began his pitch. ¡°So, I¡¯m here to ask for your permission to make my small clearing a ranch. You¡¯re all still welcome to come by, but there may be other humans who come and go. I want to set up a place where I can teach pokemon new moves, and a place for me to breed pokemon and keep them safe from the dangers of the wild. I know it¡¯s your territory, so I came to ask for your blessing. If you agree, many people will come by to help build everything for a week or two. So, I¡¯d keep these two rabble rousers away until they¡¯re gone.¡±

    While he had expected Ursaring to agree, he didn¡¯t think she¡¯d just¡­ not care at all. After barely a second, she nodded and let out a gruff sounding. ¡°Urs.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s it? I mean¡­ Thanks?¡±

    Ursaring snorted at his shocked face, then rolled her eyes when she found one of the Teddiursa digging in the ground at a nearby tree. She stomped over and peered at what it was doing, and Ethan followed along.

    Ursaring didn¡¯t seem surprised at this little situation, so he assumed this was a common occurrence.

    The Teddiursa grasped something from within the hole, then pulled back with all of its might. The item came loose, and she fell back onto her butt, but held up her prize with a squeal. To Ethan, it looked like a large piece of wild ginger, with tiny root-like offshoots jutting out to the sides.

    Teddiursa let out a cute little ¡°Ted,¡± as it righted itself, almost like it was letting out a tiny grunt of exertion, then walked over and held the root towards Ethan with a big smile.

    Ethan returned the smile. ¡°For me?¡±

    After a little nod, Ethan took the present and patted Teddiursa on the head. ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Ursaring watched them both with a calculating gaze before barking out another. ¡°Ursa.¡±

    Both of the Teddiursa gathered around and momma bear took them off back towards where they came. Ethan yelled out a ¡°Thank you! Visit when you can!¡± as the two Teddiursa waved energetically as they skipped off back home.

    Chatot had been silent during the entire meeting, and Ethan felt bad for not properly explaining what and who they were looking for. While he¡¯d told her he was looking for Ursaring, he didn¡¯t realize that she didn¡¯t know what an Ursaring was. She wasn¡¯t prepared for the alpha of the area to show up¡ªone she didn¡¯t think she stood a chance against.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Chatot. I thought you knew¡­¡±

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot ?'''' She sang a mellow song and nuzzled into his head. Then she looked at the ground in shame.

    ¡°No, no, no. Do not be ashamed. You have nothing to be ashamed about. That was my fault for not warning you¡­ Let¡¯s go back to the clearing, and you can hang out with Shuckle and Oddish. Maybe, another one of my friends will show up too. I think you¡¯ll like them.¡±

    Ethan stood and tried his best to cheer up his feathered friend as they made their way back to the clearing.

 Chapter 15

    Ethan made a mistake.

    As he and Chatot walked back to the farm, Ethan had tried his best to explain to Chatot that she shouldn¡¯t be ashamed of her strength, and that her being scared and uncomfortable was his fault. That he wasn¡¯t interested in her being strong, and she could be the weakest Chatot in existence and he¡¯d still have her around. His mission was a success, but it came at a cost.

    Now, Chatot did agree with him. It wasn¡¯t her fault at all! It was his fault! He was to blame! She had turned from the sweet flying spark of curiosity, wonder, and song, into a haughty parrot who demanded berries in return for the suffering she had suffered by his hand.

    Thankfully, by the time they arrived at the farm, she¡¯d returned to her normal loving self. As soon as they entered the clearing, she fluttered off to go find her new friend, and Ethan had a phone call to make.

    ¡°Did you get permission?¡± Looker immediately asked as soon as the call connected.

    ¡°I did. Although I have some more questions that I''d like answered, if you don¡¯t mind.¡± Ethan picked a few Oran berries to snack on as he heard the shuffling of papers on the other end of the phone.

    ¡°Good. I¡¯ve gotten hold of a construction company that¡¯s willing to work deep in Eterna Forest. I¡¯ll give them a call after we¡¯re done and let them know we can get started. What questions did you have?¡±

    Ethan swallowed a bite of Oran as he sat down on a log he¡¯d long since placed near his cabin. ¡°First, I wanted to ask if you guys could furnish the house being built. Things like appliances, a bed¡­ basically everything. I don¡¯t have the capital to do that yet, but I''d be more than willing to pay the League back. Do you guys do loans?¡±

    ¡°Yes, we¡¯ll be covering the costs of furnishing. More and more of your information has proven valuable in our efforts. So, we¡¯re giving you the VIP treatment, so to speak. I think furnishing a house isn¡¯t something that will break the economy of the region,¡± Looker chuckled, and Ethan deadpanned.

    ¡°Okay, that¡¯s good news. Next, I wanted to ask about the policies regarding foreign pokemon, pokemon that are used in businesses, and the carrying capacity. As selling and buying pokemon is illegal other than when they¡¯re bred or an egg, how would someone get their hands on a pokemon from a different region? This also ties into my other two questions. So, if I wanted, say, a Miltank for milking for my breeding ranch, how would I go about that? Also, since I¡¯ll be a ranch, I¡¯ll be bound to have loads of pokemon at some point in time. How many can I have around at once? Sorry for asking them all at the same time¡­¡± Ethan rambled.

    Looker hummed audibly from the other side of the phone. ¡°I think you¡¯ve misunderstood some of the laws, Ethan. The buying and selling of wild pokemon is illegal in those scenarios, but caught and trained Pok¨¦mon are different. There is a timeframe during which new captures can¡¯t be sold, which is three months, but if the pokemon itself would like a new home, who are we to stop them? A trainer and a pokemon splitting apart is not a rare occurrence. When journeys end, many pokemon are either traded away or sold with the pokemon¡¯s consent. Some kids return home and their pokemon would like to continue battling. Sometimes, pokemon want to get away from battles but their trainer wants to continue on. You understand?"

    Ethan felt dumb in hindsight. He¡¯d been told for his whole life that pokemon were your partners for forever, but when real life comes around, those ideals fall apart. ¡°Yeah, I understand. I assume foreign pokemon follow the same rules?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s correct. While we don¡¯t have a PC computer system like you remember from the games, we do have a way to transfer pokemon in their balls from one location to the other. But if you wanted an egg, you¡¯d have to get it the old fashioned way. When it comes to carrying capacity, the standard for trainers is six pokemon. Ace trainers and higher members of the league may carry more depending on their rank. As you¡¯ll be running a breeding and move tutor service, you yourself will be able to carry up to six pokemon, but your other pokemon may reside on your ranch. Basically, if you ever leave your ranch you may only take six pokemon with you. Don¡¯t worry about the paperwork or taxes for your business either, as you¡¯re a¡­ unique case.¡± Looker took a deep breath, winded by his explanation. ¡°Any more questions?¡±

    ¡°No, that¡¯s it¡­ Thanks for all your help, Looker. Give me a call when things are in motion.¡±

    ¡°I will.¡±

    *Click*

    After polishing off the rest of the Oran berries he¡¯d picked, Ethan checked to make sure Shuckle was still around. He assumed it was, as Chatot didn¡¯t come back after flying off, but becoming friends required effort, and he wanted to make sure they were getting along.

    He found Chatot, Shuckle, and the Oddish who called his ranch home, all out in the middle of the meadow. Chatot sat on top of Shuckle, as Shuckle sat on the ground, only having its head noodle sticking out of the hole of its shell. They were watching the seven Oddish hop, skip, and twirl around in an organized dance. It was a dance he¡¯d seen many times before, and one he¡¯d even helped them with.

    After a few seconds, Chatot flinched as a lone raindrop pelted her beak. She leaned back and gazed at the clear blue sky up above, and with a curious tilt of her head, she watched on as the incoming rain fell all across the meadow.

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    Ethan stood right at the edge of the Rain Dance¡¯s downpour, barely getting a few drops on him as he continued to watch the interactions of the pokemon silently.

    Chatot seemed to love the rain, fanning out her wings to catch more of the raindrops on her body. While Shuckle didn¡¯t seem to like the rain at all as it immediately snuck back into its shell. Chatot noticed her new friend''s suffering and quickly angled her wings to block off all of Shuckle¡¯s holes. She even used her beak as a plug, stopping the water from getting into his shell. Ethan couldn¡¯t help but smile at the scene.

    The Oddish stopped their dance and the one in the center scrunched up its face. It began shaking with concentration, and two seconds later, a vibrant orange orb launched high into the sky, causing the rain to instantly cease, as well as raising the temperature all around the meadow.

    The orb, which was the move Sunny Day, was also a move Ethan had a hand in. Were the Oddish showcasing his skills as a mo¡ª

    *Whoosh* Whoosh* Whoosh* Whoosh*

    Multiple puffs of Sweet Scent followed after the successful Sunny Day, robbing Ethan of what little ego he¡¯d managed to build up.

    Chatot removed her beak and closed her wings, unblocking Shuckle¡¯s holes. Shuckle ever so slowly raised its head out from one of its upper holes, and carefully scanned the sky for any more incoming rain. When it spotted the Sunny Day orb floating and rotating in the sky, its caution evaporated, replaced by wonder and intrigue.

    Ethan would have to remember that Shuckle didn¡¯t like water, even though it made sense, given his rock/bug typing.

    Sunny Day was one of the Oddish¡¯s favorite moves, and they used it often. They loved to soak their leaves in the faux sun and usually stayed rooted by burying their tiny feet into the ground. It was nice to see them out and about, as it was not a common sight. So Ethan watched them move and dance while he had the chance.

    After a good thirty minutes, the now tired Oddish all waddled back toward their usual resting spots, flashing him cheerful but weary smiles as they passed. They shuffled back and forth, burying their bottom halves into the soil, then closed their eyes after releasing a final puff of their actual favorite move, Sweet Scent.

    Shuckle slowly worked its way back toward Ethan¡¯s berry trees, and Chatot continued to ride him like a stoney mount. Seeing his chance to befriend the rocky bug, Ethan walked slowly alongside it as it crawled along the grassy ground. ¡°Hey, Shuckle. Do you have a favorite berry?¡±

    Berries seemed like a go to ice breaker.

    Shuckle slowly trudged along and nodded its noodly head with a content smile.

    ¡°Which one? If you want, I¡¯ll grab some ripe ones straight from the tree for you.¡±

    Shuckle nodded with only its head, rapidly, but its neck was unmoving. It appeared to have very precise control over its movements. It pointed with its thin arm toward one of the berry trees that he knew nothing about.

    The berry that grew on the tree blended in extremely well. The only indication that there was anything special about the tree at all was the unusual grassy green pine cones hanging straight off of the branches. Long ago, when he¡¯d originally found this berry, he¡¯d stumbled upon it by accident. He had thought the berry itself was an actual pinecone, and tried to crunch it by stepping on it. It got mushed instead.

    This green pine cone berry was only tied with one other as the bitterest berry he''d ever tasted¡ªthe other being Pachirisu¡¯s favorite.

    Ethan began plucking an armful of the berries, causing Shuckle¡¯s eyes to widen further with every single one he grabbed. Its mouth hung open in disbelief at the haul it was about to receive. After picking around twenty of them, Ethan knelt and handed them one by one toward Shuckle¡¯s quaking limb.

    When Shuckle grabbed the first one from his outstretched hand, it stared at the berry like a long lost family heirloom. It gently stuffed it into one of its many holes. When Ethan finished handing them all over, he¡¯d expected Shuckle to be full, but Shuckle wiggled a limb, asking for one more.

    Ethan snapped off another berry and handed it over. This time, instead of storing the berry in its shell, Shuckle gave a big, gummy chomp, trying to gnaw away at the berry. Ethan was surprised at the sudden chomp, having expected it to store the berry like all the others, but what surprised him even more, was that the berry began to liquify in Shuckle¡¯s mouth.

    Shuckle smiled with its eyes as it happily munched on the berry, causing juicy bits and pieces to drip down its chin and splatter about. ¡°Shuckle!¡±

    Chatot, interested in her friend¡¯s favorite berry, fluttered up and nabbed one herself. She pecked at it and seemed to enjoy it like all the others she¡¯d ever had.

    Ethan sat down on the solid ground and leaned on his knees. ¡°So, do you like my farm?¡±

    Shuckle rapidly nodded and flailed its back leg-limbs as it continued to gnaw on the liquifying berry.

    Ethan took a deep breath and gave Shuckle a warm smile. ¡°Do you want to stay here with us? There¡¯s going to be more and more pokemon who stay here with me, and you¡¯re more than welcome to join. No, I want you to join.¡±

    Ethan lowered his hand toward his belt, and without taking his eyes off of Shuckle or losing his smile, unclipped one of his two empty pokeballs. He placed it on the ground in front of it. ¡°You can live here without being my pokemon, but I think I¡¯d like it more if you properly joined me. Do you know what this is?¡±

    Surprisingly, Shuckle nodded. Ethan hadn¡¯t expected Shuckle to know what a pokeball was, and during his moment of surprise, a red light enveloped Shuckle, sucking him into the ball.

    *Shake* *Ding!*

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot-tooot-tooot! ?¡±

    Chatot gave an excited and cheerful birdsong as she fluttered her wings and hopped along the ground in pure joy. Ethan laughed, but couldn¡¯t hold back his enormous smile. He released Shuckle from its ball back onto its original spot and then clipped its ball back onto his belt.

    With a stupefied look, Shuckle rapidly blinked its thin eyes. Chatot gave a few chirps and nodded sagely as she hopped over to drape a wing over her family member. Almost as if saying, ¡®I know right?¡¯

    That made Ethan wonder even more about what it was like inside the pokeball. He¡¯d have to find a way to get Chatot to tell him about it sometime in the future.

    Just as he was about to warmly welcome his newest partner, Shuckle abruptly snaked its head down and gave a jubilant chomp on its lost berry, splattering sticky juice across his face. Chatot burst into chittering laughter, completely ruining the moment.

 Chapter 16

    Today was the day the builders would arrive and start working on his ranch, and Ethan couldn¡¯t be more excited.

    On the day Shuckle joined his family, Looker called to inform Ethan that the company he had contacted would be arriving in two days. Initially, Ethan was surprised by how quickly they would arrive. However, upon learning that the company specialized in unique environments and that all their members had flying mounts, it was no wonder why they had been chosen.

    Shuckle had fit in perfectly at the ranch, and Ethan couldn¡¯t have been happier with his choice to offer him a spot in their ever-growing family. As he couldn¡¯t quickly travel back to the Pokemon Center to get a checkup for his berry hoarder, Ethan did his best to search on his phone about the species as a whole, and to do his own research regarding the health of his pokemon.

    From what his novice, self-taught self could tell, Shuckle was in perfect health, and was very young¡ªperhaps only one or two months old. Also, after a few awkward games of charades, Ethan discovered that Shuckle was a male. His berry loving boy was currently digging himself a burrow to hide himself in with the move Dig and storing some bundles of berries deep within its hideout.

    Shuckle had really opened up to Ethan, Chatot, and the Oddish after the first day, but every time a new wild pokemon came along to snag one of the juicy ripe berries, Shuckle would immediately withdraw himself into his shell. He would remain unmoving, hidden from everyone, until they assured him that the wild pokemon was gone.

    It seemed like he had severe anxiety about new pokemon coming near him. So, Ethan went on his phone once again, to see if he could glean any reason for why such a young pokemon would act this way¡­ What he found made his heart hurt.

    In their natural habitats, all wild pokemon were well aware of Shuckle¡¯s near incapability for retaliating to their aggressive attacks. The only thing that they did was hide in their shell until the enemy would give up and leave them alone. As their shell was nigh unbreakable, and with the fact that they could sip their fermenting juice to not starve, it often became a siege.

    When Ethan eventually put two and two together, he realized that Shuckle had probably been the target of many attacks, even at such a young age. This made Shuckle scared, wary, and cautious of anything unfamiliar, always expecting another attack. Ethan and Chatot were likely the first living beings to treat him kindly. He remembered when he and Chatot left to find Ursaring¡ªthe hesitating and unfamiliar friendly wave...

    He was getting better, coming out from his shell sooner rather than later, but these things took time, and Ethan was confident in his ability to be patient.

    Another thing that saddened Ethan was not seeing any signs of Pachirisu. Pachirisu had visited him every day, helped with the farm, and was his first real friend. They were the first pokemon he had truly interacted with, and he would admit that he badly wanted to see them again. He had his final pokeball ready for when the time came, and he was sure that they¡¯d come back. If anybody deserved a spot in his family, it was Pachirisu.

    Chatot had requisitioned his stone bowl as a birdbath. Which, to be fair, was probably a better use for it. During her exploration of the ranch, she¡¯d always come back covered in juicy berries, which seeped into her feathers. Even he didn¡¯t want a sticky bird riding on his shoulder. He¡¯d even texted Cici, who was the only other number he had in his phone, if the amount of berries she feasted on was a cause for concern. Cici eventually got back to him and told him that if she started to gain more weight, then he¡¯d have to find a way for her to curb her enthusiasm.

    As Ethan realized pacing back and forth waiting for the building company to arrive was not going to make them come any sooner, he started down his lines of berry trees, harvesting the overgrowing berries from the ground. He wasn¡¯t harvesting the berries from the tree, as he didn¡¯t have a proper way to preserve them for an extended period of time. They¡¯d stay fresh by staying connected.

    When Shuckle came trudging out of his diggy-diggy hole with a smile, he noticed Ethan grabbing all of the berries from the ground and collecting them into piles. Shuckle quickly dragged himself over toward the nearest collection of fallen berries and frantically began jamming them in his holes.

    Ethan watched this take place, pinched the bridge of his nose, and then shook his head. ¡°Shuckle. I¡¯m not taking your berries. I¡¯m just creating a pile of them.¡±

    Shuckle wildly shook his head and quickly wiggled one of his noodles towards his homey hole. ¡°Shuckle-shuck!¡±

    Ethan looked to and from Shuckle and the hole, not quite understanding what he was trying to say. Shuckle, seeing Ethan¡¯s confusion, scooted over toward his small pile of sorted berries and began stuffing himself silly. All four of his noodle limbs grabbed a berry, then withdrew into his shell. When they came back out, the berries were gone.

    ¡°Shuckle¡­ I¡¯m not keeping the berries from you. Stop that.¡± Ethan frowned.

    Shuckle ignored him and slowly dragged himself back towards, and into, his hole. Ethan stopped what he was doing and walked over to Shuckle¡¯s home. He lay flat on the ground, peering and sticking his head into the dark abyss, and just barely managed to make out the interior of the burrow as it widened the further it tunneled into the earth.

    Shuckle was in a small oval dugout, which had alcoves dug into the walls, creating pockets of storage which each held a different type of berry. He unloaded his shell and began sorting through them, placing them each into their own alcove.

    When he finished, he turned to exit his home for another trip, spotting Ethan¡¯s head sticking in his hole. Shuckle waved his yellow limbs with excitement and pointed around at the sorted and ordered berries.

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    Ethan¡¯s worries about Shuckle also having a food issue evaporated as he realized Shuckle was upset because he was trying to do what Shuckle had already been doing¡ªCollecting the fallen berries, sorting them, and stashing them away for storage.

    After removing his head from Shuckle¡¯s entrance, he knelt on the ground and smiled as Shuckle came out. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Shuckle. I didn¡¯t know you were already doing that job. Thank you for your help. Just remember, these berries are for everyone. If another pokemon comes and asks for some, you should share. You wouldn¡¯t want Chatot to go hungry, now would you?¡±

    Shuckle shook his head rapidly from side to side and then nodded his understanding with a cute face of determination. ¡°Shuck!¡±

    Ethan patted Shuckle on his shell, then stood up. ¡°Alright, sorry for upsetting you, Shuckle. I¡¯m glad that you¡¯re helping.¡±

    Ethan strutted over and sat on his old log as he waited for the construction company to arrive. As he waited, he watched Shuckle gather berries with determination, eager to help out around the ranch. He flicked his eyes toward Chatot, who was asleep in the nearby birdbath, floating about like a buoy, and observed the Oddish that lazed about, eyes closed and meditating.

    Twenty minutes and a quick lunch later, the faint wingbeats of multiple flying pokemon drew near his clearing. Gazing up, Ethan watched on as five Staraptor and one Fearow circled lazily overhead. Ethan wasn¡¯t sure if they could see him, but he waved at the sky, and as soon as he did, all the fliers began their descent.

    The flying pokemon and their riders circled in their descent and eventually used his open meadow as a pseudo runway. They came in fast, skirting the tops of the trees, then slowed with large flaps of their wings, which caused the long grass to sway and roll with the blasting air as they touched ground.

    The crew dismounted and began taking off numerous bags attached to their Pok¨¦mon. The dark-skinned, lean woman who rode in on the Fearow walked toward him to meet him halfway. She had a warm smile as she looked around the place, but it quickly soured into a grimace as her eyes landed on Ethan¡¯s cabin.

    ¡°There were some troubling times, and I had to build it by hand. Don¡¯t shame me too much.¡± Ethan joked as he reached out and shook the woman¡¯s rough, calloused hand.

    ¡°Nah, it¡¯s alright for a newbie with no tools. Ethan, I presume?¡± She asked, and Ethan nodded.

    ¡°Great. I¡¯m Alba, leader for this project you got us building out here. To my understanding, it¡¯s going to be a breeding ranch?¡± Alba asked as she patted around her chest, eventually finding the small handheld notebook inside her jacket, which she took out and prepared for note taking.

    ¡°That¡¯s correct. It¡¯s going to be a breeding ranch, but it¡¯s also a berry farm, as you can see, and I¡¯ll be needing space for when I teach pokemon as a move tutor. Other than that, just a working house with the necessities and I¡¯ll be more than happy.¡± Ethan explained.

    Alba wrote down some notes, then read them over as she tapped her pencil on her chin. ¡°You still need a path to connect to the offshoot of route 205?¡±

    Ethan coughed awkwardly. He¡¯d completely forgotten about the path, too excited about his ranch. ¡°Yes, sorry. That too.¡±

    ¡°Gotcha. Well, you have a pretty substantial budget and we¡¯ve already been paid. We¡¯re down to work until we¡¯re run dry. We can easily fit all of what you asked in, but what else did you have in mind?¡±

    Ethan blinked in confusion. He had a budget?! ¡°Uhh, what would you recommend? You¡¯re the one with the expertise.¡±

    Alba gazed around, taking in the entirety of his clearing in a single sweep. ¡°No water sources. You¡¯ll want a pond and a well at the very least. A proper path leading through the ranch can easily be done with local materials, planks or cut stone, and I''d recommend a small campground for would-be customers. It¡¯s a long walk, and they¡¯ll probably want to stay the night. A simple training field, and¡­ let¡¯s say a proper outside patio? Thoughts?¡±

    ¡°Well, I''ll be damned. I¡¯m glad I asked the expert.¡± Ethan said, surprised by all of the excellent ideas. ¡°Go for them all. You and your crew obviously know what you¡¯re doing¡ªMake sure you don¡¯t step on the Oddish.¡± Ethan commented and pointed as they both walked to where his cabin was located. The Oddish slowly peeked with a single eye, before returning to its meditation/sleep,

    ¡°Thanks, they¡¯re always hard to spot. Any other pokemon out and about that me or my crew need to worry about?¡± Alba asked.

    ¡°Those are wild Oddish, but they live here. I have a Chatot and a Shuckle. You¡¯ll probably see Chatot flying around, but Shuckle is a little shy and cautious. He has a burrow over here¡­¡± Ethan pointed at the hole as the noodly head of Shuckle ducked within. ¡°So try not to dig around here?¡±

    Alba waved off the concerns. ¡°Easily done. We may need to get the Oddish to move for a short time while we work on your house, but that shouldn¡¯t be an issue. Anything else?¡±

    Ethan nodded. ¡°If you see a Pachirisu, please find me and let me know. Also, we¡¯re on an Ursaring¡¯s territory and she has two Teddiursa. They probably won¡¯t show up, as I¡¯ve warned them about your presence, but if they do show up¡­¡± Ethan trailed off, but Alba snorted.

    ¡°Yeah, don¡¯t worry about that. None of my guys are dumb enough to try anything. This job will take¡­ a week? Maybe a little longer, depending on difficulties. During our stay, we¡¯ll be flying to Eterna City to sleep and gather supplies. We¡¯ll try to keep out of your way, but I might bother you when we talk about interior design. Sounds good?¡±

    Ethan smiled. ¡°Sounds like a plan. Feel free to give your pokemon some berries, I got more than I know what to do with.¡±

    They shook on it, and once Alba let go, she turned and barked out orders to her crew. The five men of her crew all mockingly groaned at her voice, causing her to bark out orders even louder. Ethan laughed at their good natured banter.

    The crew all threw out some pokeballs, releasing various pokemon to help them with their work. Ethan recognized most of them, such as the two Machoke and three Machop, but one of them was unfamiliar.

    Ethan took out his phone and aimed the camera at the hulking beast carrying two massive, thick poles of concrete. It looked like an ogre, with its large red nose and prominent brow.

    ¡°Conkeldurr ¡ª The Muscular Pokemon: Conkeldurr is known for its incredible strength and mastery of concrete. It uses pillars of concrete to train and hone its muscles, often creating them by mixing and molding its own cement. Conkeldurr''s immense strength allows it to carry and wield these massive pillars with ease. In battle, it uses its concrete pillars to deliver devastating blows, and can even throw them as projectiles. Conkeldurr are often seen working in construction, as their concrete is stronger than normal.¡±

    Ethan lowered his phone and stared at the enormous muscled pokemon.

    He was in good hands.

 Chapter 17

    ¡°You see? They¡¯re not going to hurt you, Shuckle,¡± Ethan said comfortably as Shuckle cautiously began to exit his burrow. Shuckle¡¯s eyes remained locked on the construction company members and their pokemon.

    ¡°Shuck-le-le?¡±

    Ethan patted Shuckle on his shell as he waited for him to finish his observations. He wasn¡¯t going to force Shuckle to get used to outsiders, but he¡¯d encourage it. ¡°Did you know that you¡¯re a very special pokemon?¡±

    Shuckle shook his little yellow head as he continued watching on. ¡°You¡¯re the slowest pokemon that exists, and you¡¯re very weak when attacking. When hit directly on your body, you¡¯re very frail.¡±

    Shuckle began to look dejected, but Ethan continued with a smile, catching his attention. ¡°You¡¯re also the pokemon with the highest defenses. Out of them all, you¡¯re at, or tied at the very top. You¡¯re capable of learning a move that swaps your defense and attack, enabling you to take on any foe at the risk of becoming physically vulnerable. It¡¯s called Power Trick.¡±

    Now his gaze was on Ethan, his tiny jaw dropping as he listened on. ¡°While you¡¯ll still be very slow, nobody will want to mess with you after that. And if they try? Well, you¡¯ll be doing so much damage that they¡¯ll learn the hard way¡­ What I''m trying to say is, you¡¯re not useless. You do not exist to get picked on. You don¡¯t have to be afraid of strangers¡ªbeing cautious is all well and good, but you¡¯ll never make any friends if you don¡¯t come out of your shell.¡°

    After a deep breath, Ethan pointed off at the meadow. ¡°Do you want to try learning some moves? I¡¯d like to see what you already know as well.¡±

    Shuckle nodded rapidly, eager to learn how to fight back for once. Ethan picked up his berry fermentor, who was a hefty fifty pounds, and headed towards the meadow, passing Alba¡¯s workers as they organized their materials and planned out the construction of his soon-to-be ranch.

    Once in the open field, Ethan put Shuckle down and took a few steps back. ¡°Okay, Shuckle. How about you show me what you can do? I know you know dig, but what else?¡±

    Shuckle ducked into his shell, then came out of several of his other holes, effectively turning around. Shuckle stared fiercely into the distance, and then with a cute yell of ¡°Shuu!¡± retreated into his shell as a faint coat of shimmering blue rippled over him.

    With as much praise as he could muster, Ethan cheered on his pokemon. ¡°Great job! I think that was Withdraw. It raises your physical defense. What else?¡±

    As Shuckle focused on doing his next move, Ethan watched very carefully. In the games, when a buff or debuff affected a pokemon, the animation was usually an orange or blue effect. Orange for a buff, blue for a debuff. He¡¯d need to see if that was truly the case here, or whether the blue shimmer was the effect of using a water move. This would be the easiest way to know if Shuckle had the ability Contrary.

    Next, Shuckle flailed a limb forward. A baseball sized brown rock materialized and launched into the distance. It was a fairly fast projective, but not nearly as fast as a major league baseball pitch.

    ¡°Nice! I think that was Rock Throw. It¡¯s always good to have some ranged options for when you need it. You¡¯re also a rock type, so it gets an extra little boost to power. Anything else?¡±

    With another nod, Shuckle walked toward Ethan. Once at his feet, Shuckle¡¯s limbs quickly wrapped around his leg, coiling around his calf like a rope. It didn¡¯t hurt at all, feeling like a hug, but Ethan didn¡¯t doubt that it could hurt, if Shuckle intended for it to. ¡°Another great move! That¡¯s Wrap or Bind. I can¡¯t really tell the difference, but both are very useful moves for a lower damage pokemon. This is a great foundation!¡±

    Shuckle let go, unwinding his limbs from Ethan¡¯s leg, then tapped his shoe. Next, he wiggled one limb into the field and huffed some air out of his nose in determination. Seeing this, Ethan figured that Shuckle had yet another move. Shuckle reared his head back in a mighty, intimidating pose, then thrust his neck forward!

    *ACK*

    Like a cat coughing up a fur ball, Shuckle hawked up a spray of absolutely foul smelling purple liquid. It splattered across the grass harmlessly. Shuckle withdrew and popped out of his other holes to turn around, and looked at Ethan with an eager smile, expecting more praise.

    Ethan held a forced smile as best as he could. ¡°Wow! I don¡¯t even know what move that is! Very impressive! Now, let¡¯s talk about what moves you should learn. While I would love to teach you Power Trick, I wouldn¡¯t even know where to start. There¡¯s a similar move, Power Split. It evens out your attack with your opponents. Since you¡¯re naturally weak, you will get much stronger while your enemy will get weaker. I think it would be a good starting place to learn these swapping moves¡­ But, you¡¯ll need a partner¡­¡±

    Ethan looked over his shoulder toward the cabin, where Chatot sat perched. She¡¯d been watching the construction workers go about their tasks with intrigue and curiosity. He cupped his hands and was just about to yell when a soft, questioning cry came from off near the trees.

    ¡°Ral?¡±

    The tiny fairy had its head peeking out from a nearby bush. Its bowl cut hid one of its curious pinkish-red eyes as it held a nubby hand up, tapping its chin. Before Ethan could even attempt an introduction, Shuckle was in his shell. He had entered with such speed that Ethan barely managed to catch the final rocking tilt of the shell as it stilled.

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    He knelt and gave Shuckle some pats. ¡°Ralts is a friend. Remember what I said earlier? Not every pokemon is out to get you.¡±

    Shuckle wasn¡¯t swayed by Ethan¡¯s honeyed words. He stayed in his shell, unmoving, pretending he didn¡¯t exist.

    ¡°Ralts?¡± Ralts stumbled forward and waddled over. It took careful steps to not trip over its wispy, overly-long toga-like body, and peered into one of Shuckle¡¯s holes.

    ¡°Garde-Gardevoir.¡± Following right after Ralts, was the familiar sight of Gardevoir. She gracefully floated over the tall grass, not opting to walk on her two legs, as she spoke a few more words to the curious Ralts. When she finished, Ralts waddled away from Shuckle, leaving the poor pokemon alone. He still refused to move or reveal himself.

    The Gardevoir gave Ethan a nod of recognition and a smile. ¡°Hello, kind one. I¡¯m glad to see you¡¯re doing better, and that your dreams are becoming a reality. I have come bearing a gift.¡±

    ¡°A gift? For me?¡± Ethan had only met this family of psychics once, and it was for less than five minutes. He hadn¡¯t done anything to earn a gift.

    As if reading his mind, Gardevoir¡¯s eyes twinkled with mischief and she gestured towards the way they came. ¡°Here he comes.¡±

    ¡°Paaaaaaaaaachiiiiiiiiii!¡±

    Turning his head excitedly toward the sound of his missing friend, rewarded Ethan with a face full of soft white and blue fur as his neck snapped back from the force of Pachirisu¡¯s enthusiastic entrance.

    Pachirisu hugged his face as rubbed his tingly cheeks all over Ethan as he rapidly said his name over and over again, shuddering as he took rapid breaths.

    ¡°Pachi-pachi-pachi-pachi-pachi.¡±

    Ethan tore the rodent off of his face as he tried not to cry from relief and joy. He held Pachirisu high in the air like he was raising Simba on top of pride rock. Pachirisu was blubbering and making grabby motions with his two tiny, outstretched hands. Ethan brought him to his chest and hugged him dearly. They both stayed like that until Gardevoir spoke into Ethan¡¯s mind.

    ¡°He came to me, told me that you had been stolen, and asked for the help of the fairies. He wouldn¡¯t leave until we came with him.¡± Gardevoir listened to Pachirisu¡¯s blabbering for a moment, then laughed with a beautiful voice in his mind. ¡°He says that he¡¯s sorry for stealing your berries and for not helping more. He says he¡¯ll protect you to make sure you don¡¯t get ¡®stolen¡¯ again.¡±

    Ethan felt the static electricity charging in his plain white t-shirt and held Pachirisu up again. ¡°I missed you too. I wasn¡¯t stolen¡­ I was saved. You see these people?¡± He nodded off toward the construction crew, who had all stopped working and were watching on with various expressions, and Pachirisu sniffled with a nod. ¡°They¡¯re here to build me a home. A proper home¡­ but sooner or later, I''ll have to leave again.¡±

    Pachirisu started crying again, shaking his head back and forth in denial.

    ¡°BUT! I think I¡¯d like for you to come with me. This way, we won¡¯t have to be separated again. You can live here with me. You don¡¯t have to live in the forests if you don¡¯t want to.¡± Ethan placed Pachirisu on his shoulder, then unclipped his last remaining pokeball. He tapped the button in the center, enlarging it, then offered it toward Pachirisu.

    Pachirisu looked confused on what it was, and looked between it, Ethan, and Gardevoir.

    ¡°Garde-gar. Gardevoir. Gard, gar-arde.¡± She pointed to the pokeball, and Pachirisu, without hesitation, leaped at it. He was instantly sucked inside with a red stream of light.

    *Ding!*

    The ball didn¡¯t even shake once, unlike the times before. Ethan heard clapping from off by his cabin, where the construction crew gathered. ¡°Oh god. This is pretty embarrassing.¡±

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot! ?¡±

    Chatot flew over, landing on his shoulder with a tilt of the head as she stared at the pokeball in his palm. Gardevoir gave Chatot a nod and a greeting, and Ralts, wanting to copy his mother, did the same.

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot! ?¡±

    Shuckle ever so slowly raised his thin yellow head out of one of his many holes and peered around like a submarine¡¯s periscope. ¡°Shuck?¡±

    Ethan released Pachirisu from his ball, and when he materialized, he twisted toward Ethan with eyes full of tears, and a happy, heartwarming smile¡­ Then he stilled. He narrowed his blurry eyes at Chatot, who peered back at the electric squirrel from atop Ethan¡¯s shoulder¡ªNo, from Pachirisu¡¯s spot.

    ¡°Pachi.¡± Said Pachirisu, tone flat and factual as he sniffed and rubbed his narrowed eyes.

    Chatot raised a brow and looked toward Ethan¡¯s other, empty, shoulder. ¡°? Chatot. ?¡±

    Pachirisu, affronted by the mere suggestion that he take the left shoulder, began stomping his foot down on the grass while pointing at Chatot. ¡°Pachi, pach-pach-paaaaa!¡±

    Ethan, Gardevoir, Ralts, Shuckle, and the construction crew watched on with a mix of emotions. Gardevoir was amused by the scene unfolding before them. Ralts looked a little clueless, if Ethan was being honest. Shuckle looked worried, and the construction crew looked jovial like they were about to watch a movie.

    Ethan was confused, but figured that it was best for them to sort this out peacefully. They were part of the same family, and holding grudges wouldn¡¯t work well.

    Pachirisu stomped forward toward Ethan¡¯s leg, and then began climbing his way up toward Chatot, who looked impressed and intrigued. Almost as if she was thinking, ¡°Oh!? You¡¯re approaching me?¡±

    Pachirisu held his glare the entire way up, and tried to insert himself in between Ethan¡¯s head and Chatot¡¯s body, shoving his way in. Ethan tilted his head away to give Pachirisu some extra room, but Chatot was an immovable object.

    They both began bickering with one another. Over the next fifteen seconds, it ramped up in intensity. But eventually, they both seemed to come to the same conclusion.

    Pachi jumped off his shoulder with a twirling flip and landed with a slide on the tall grass. Chatot flew up into the air, doing a lap from up above before she fluttered down to stand several feet across from Pachirisu. They both glared at one another.

    They prepared for battle.

 Chapter 18

    Pachirisu¡¯s tail stood high and twitched with anticipation, while across from him, Chatot¡¯s tail rhythmically wagged back and forth, setting up the tempo for the battle to come, and Ethan stood there with worry.

    ¡°Let it happen. Adversity builds strength and creates bonds. Let them show each other what they¡¯re made of.¡± Gardevoir spoke into his mind, clearly well aware of his thoughts about stopping the battle to come. She flicked her eyes toward him. ¡°Support them. Create the rules and make sure they don¡¯t go overboard.¡±

    Ethan nodded, then walked up in between the two glaring pokemon, acting as a referee. ¡°This battle is for the spot to rest on my right shoulder?¡± He asked, unconfidently. The two pokemon nodded with seriousness, lowered their postures, and tensed their muscles.

    ¡°This battle will end when I deem one side too damaged to continue. You will stop the battle when I say so, or you will be disqualified and lose all riding privileges. Chatot, no using Boomburst. Pachirisu, no using Super Fang. Do you both understand?¡± Ethan looked at each of his pokemon, getting nods in return.

    ¡°The battle will start when this berry touches the ground. Good luck.¡± Ethan grabbed one of the many berries he had, then backed up to give them some space. With a deep breath, Ethan lobbed the berry in between the two battlers and watched as both of their eyes tracked it through the air.

    It rolled and tumbled, and as soon as the juicy flesh touched the dirt, the battle exploded into action.

    Immediately, both Pokemon went on the offensive. Chatot hopped backwards, using her tensed muscles to spring and glide, while using Chatter. She chatted on and on in a melodic and repeated song. The pink, blue, and yellow sound waves traveled through the air at breakneck speeds, but Pachirisu wasn¡¯t a slouch.

    With decisiveness, Pachirisu matched the speed of sound with the speed of electricity. A faint thrum of electricity radiated forward in a circular beam, creating an eerie static crackling sound reminiscent of failing reception on a radio. Without waiting for his move to hit, he instantly tunneled into the ground, using Dig to evade Chatot¡¯s sound waves.

    The electric attack slammed into the flying type, but to both Ethan and Chatot¡¯s surprise, she was unharmed. Ethan hadn¡¯t ever seen that move before, and was curious about the effects.

    Chatot flew higher to get away from the ground, scanning across the grassy meadow like a bird of prey, waiting for the moment Pachirisu came up from his Dig. While Chatot might have thought herself safe, as she was well over fifteen feet up in the air, Ethan knew what the rodent was capable of.

    Pachirisu launched like a bullet out of the ground, launching himself toward Chatot with a cry. ¡°Pachi!¡±

    Sparks of electricity surged from his cheeks as he grasped the startled bird and mushed his face into her feathers, quickly shaking his head from side to side. Chatot¡¯s muscles seized, and she began falling out of the sky. The paralyzing effects of Nuzzle settled in, but she could still make sounds.

    Chatot latched her talons into Pachirisu¡¯s tail, holding him in place as they both tumbled through the air toward the ground. She took a deep breath, her chest swelling from the intake of air, then screamed into Pachirisu¡¯s face, causing him to grimace as the sound alone blew his fur backwards in forceful waves.

    Ethan was about to call it right then and there, afraid for the safety of his pokemon, but to his utter confusion, the Hyper Voice was much weaker than he¡¯d thought it would be, and half-way through the screams, another surge of paralysis, cut the move short.

    They both crashed to the ground, both a little worse for wear from the impact, but still raring to go.

    Pachirisu was the first to recover and used Quick Attack to surge the short distance into Chatot¡¯s side. He then gathered his electricity and head-butted Chatot with a super effective Spark.

    Chatot screamed not in an attack, but in pain. In desperation, she used Peck to jam her beak into Pachirisu¡¯s forehead, knocking him away so that she could take flight into the air, escaping his range.

    After flying well out of the distance of a potential Dig launched rodent, Chatot eventually turned to look down upon her grounded foe, only to see a sea of white stars. The Swift, a move Ethan had personally taught Pachirisu, flew through the air with unerring accuracy, tracking Chatot down without fail. She twisted, turned, dived, and rolled, but the stars were unrelenting.

    But Chatot couldn¡¯t evade forever. A surge of paralysis caught her mid flight, and the Swift stars hammered home. Ethan watched as Chatot tumbled out of the air, and decided that he should call it there. ¡°STOP! Pachirisu is the winner.¡±

    Ethan quickly grabbed Chatot¡¯s pokeball and returned her before she could hit the ground, then immediately let her out to check her injuries. Chatot was still conscious, but she was upset about losing. She was missing some of her feathers, had some singed marks, and looked generally scuffed up, but she didn''t appear truly injured. She still spasmed with paralysis every few seconds, and as if sensing his worry, Gardevoir¡¯s eyes shined a bright purple, and from several hundred feet away from his berry farm, a lone berry hovered through the air towards him.

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    It was the shape of a cherry and was the smallest berry he grew on his farm. It was a bright orange with a hint of fiery red scattered in patches across its skin. Ethan had remembered eating a few here and there, and knew that they were spicy and had a very smooth texture. Gardevoir floated the berry down in front of Chatot with her Psychic, and Chatot gobbled it up with a single bite.

    Gardevoir¡¯s eyes returned to normal as she turned to Ethan. ¡°The green ones call it a Cheri berry. They can cure paralysis. She¡¯ll be fine in a minute or two. Her wounds will heal in a few hours.¡±

    Pachirisu ran up to him and clambered up his leg to sit on his hard fought spot with a self-assured smile. He wrapped his extraordinarily fluffy, poofy tail around Ethan¡¯s neck as an anchor and smiled smugly. ¡°Pachi¡± He said with a nod of the head as he crossed his arms in victory.

    Chatot glared from her spot on the ground, looking disdainfully at Ethan¡¯s left shoulder. Ethan cleared his throat and tried to mend any lingering ill will. ¡°You both agreed to the battle and the rewards, and I stopped the battle before either of you got seriously injured. The results are final, but I think both of you did great. Maybe after some more training, you both can try again to see who can claim the throne? Say¡­ a month from now?¡±

    They both easily agreed. Chatot because she wanted her spot back, and Pachirisu because he wanted to prove himself. He was taking this ¡®not being stolen¡¯ thing rather seriously.

    ¡°Shuckle?¡±

    Shuckle looked back and forth worriedly between the two winded pokemon, but Ralts patted him on his shell and spoke to him with cute sagely nods. Gardevoir watched on and smiled, proud of whatever Ralts was saying. Shuckle listened raptly, then closed his eyes with a slight smile of relief.

    Shuckle withdrew one of his noodly arms to grab a berry and handed it to Ralts as a thanks. It was one of the few berries Ethan actually knew about, a Sitrus berry. Shuckle then did the same, but offered it to Chatot, who, of course, gobbled it up.

    Gardevoir turned to Ethan. ¡°May I take some berries home with me for the others?¡±

    He waved off toward the trees. ¡°By all means, feel free. You¡¯re welcome back anytime if you¡¯d like some more. I¡¯m opening a ranch here. So, I¡¯ll be teaching pokemon moves, breeding pokemon, and keeping their eggs safe. I don¡¯t plan on leaving.¡±

    Gardevoir listened carefully. ¡°I understand, kind one. Breeding pokemon is something that is known to many of us. The safety of offspring is paramount to the continuation of lineages. You are a caretaker and protector. We share similar roles. Perhaps you can watch over one of mine some time in the future.¡±

    She finished by giving him a nod of respect and then floated off toward his berry farm to collect some berries. Ralts waved goodbye to Shuckle as he gnawed on the Sitrus berry. He sprinted and tripped over his toga, but blipped out of existence just before face planting, appearing next to Gardevoir like nothing happened.

    ¡°Well, that was a lot of excitement. Pachirisu, I think its time for some proper introductions. You¡¯re familiar with Chatot, but this here is Shuckle. He¡¯s shy, but he loves berries and keeps them safe for us,¡± Ethan said, causing Pachirisu to look down at the red shell of Shuckle with a wave. ¡°Pachi!¡±

    Shuckle carefully smiled and flailed one of his forelimbs in what amounted to a wave of his own. ¡°Shuckle¡­¡±

    ¡°Remember how I taught you all those moves so long ago? I¡¯m trying to teach Shuckle here some moves as well, but he needs a partner. Do you want to be his partner?¡± Ethan asked.

    Pachirisu straightened his back and jabbed a thumb at his chest. With gleaming eyes and a confident nod, he said his trademark, ¡°PACHI!!!¡± before jumping down to train.

    Ethan had Shuckle try to focus on his power, and the difference between it and Pachirisu¡¯s. As it was a psychic type move, Ethan figured it was more of a mental thing. He tried to get Shuckle into the mindset that he could literally even the playing field. Shuckle was weak right now, but in the future? He¡¯d be strong. They didn¡¯t get anywhere with the training in the next few hours, but this was most definitely not a move a young pokemon learned in a single day. He¡¯d be surprised if Shuckle learned it in a week.

    Chatot had fully recovered halfway during their training session, and Ethan still couldn¡¯t believe the speed at which pokemon recovered, Sitrus berries helping the process or not. She was currently perched on top of a berry tree, watching the construction crew finish up for the day. She was very interested in them for some reason, but they didn¡¯t seem to mind the attention.

    Pachirisu quickly grew bored standing around while Shuckle thought hard in his direction. So, he¡¯d taken a nap. His thick, fluffy tail wrapped around him, causing it to act as a pillow and mattress as he gently snoozed in the meadow. The high stakes battle and emotional day must have tuckered the little guy out.

    Ethan had to give some inputs on where he wanted the well and pond, and the construction crew finished the surrounding fencing in a single day. They had just left for Eterna City, done with the day''s work, as Ethan sat down on his log and gazed about his slowly transforming clearing.

    So much had happened in such a short amount of time. A little over a week ago, he was still a man lost and afraid, sitting on this very log, thinking about the end. The end of it all and the end of being alone.

    Now? Now, he had a purpose. He had family, friends, relationships, and most importantly, will. He wanted for all of¡­ this to work out. Ethan wanted for all pokemon, strong or weak, to know that this place would be a safe-haven for them and their children. He wanted to be known to trainers as a person they could trust their partner to, and know that the pokemon would trust him to believe that he knew what he was doing, so that they could become strong for their trainers.

    He¡¯d cut away a slice of this massive forest for his endeavors, and he would try his best to make his new dreams come true.

    This was the most important moment of time in his new life.

    This was a new beginning.

 Chapter 19

    ¡°I think I speak for everyone, that we¡¯re glad to see you out and encouraging the new generation of trainers, Champion Cynthia. Do you have any encouraging words for these up and comers you battled today?¡± The reporter said as he stuck his recording device outwards to catch her response.

    Cynthia sat at the interview table, a sea of reporters all vying for her attention as they held in their eager questions. The flashes of cameras and rabid reporters were nothing new, and she knew what she was getting herself into when she¡¯d joined this tourney. She leaned forward to speak into the mic as Swinub snorted and oinked in joy at his recent victories. ¡°All the trainers who participated in the Junior Journey Cup should be proud of what they achieved here. You do not start strong, you grow to be strong. Together with your pokemon, you can achieve great things, and I hope to face you all as true competitors at this year¡¯s Lily of the Valley Conference.¡±

    As she leaned back away from the mic, Cynthia looked over the hoard of reporters and picked out one who looked to be new. The woman¡¯s meekness reminded her of the young trainers she¡¯d just battled. The woman seemed surprised at being chosen, but gave a giant smile as she stepped forward to ask her question. ¡°Joline, from Poke Political Plaza. Your newest capture, Swinub, tore through the competition today. Did you do any special training for him to prepare for this event?¡±

    Cynthia hid her smile as she responded casually, but professionally. This was the perfect opportunity to repay a debt. ¡°I trained Swinub just like any of my other pokemon¡­¡±

    The crowd seemed to deflate after hearing her words, but she wasn¡¯t done. A slight smirk leaked through her facade as she continued. ¡°But, I did have Swinub learn Mud Shot from a very proficient, up and coming Move Tutor. In only a single day, he taught Swinub the move Mud Shot, which you¡¯ve seen throughout the tournament. I would like to personally thank him for his services.¡±

    Like a school of Sharpedo, the reporters barked and hollered out their questions, creating an eruption of noise. They obviously smelt blood in the water.

    She pointed to another reporter at random, and the expected topic came¡ªAll according to plan. ¡°You used a move tutors services even though you¡¯re champion? Can you elaborate on why you chose to seek out these services, and why you deemed it necessary?¡±

    With no pause, she responded as she leaned forward and spoke in a flinty tone. ¡°Firstly, it wasn¡¯t necessary. I am the champion, I do not lack the ability to train my own pokemon. But, like every person in the world, I become busy. Especially after the recent raids on the crime syndicate rising throughout our great region. I had noticed this particular move tutor, and breeder, and recognised his talents. That is why I chose to use his services. To all those out there listening, there is no shame in getting help from a professional.¡±

    The reporter looked miffed at his failed instigation, but sat down without another word. Cynthia picked out another reporter at random, and they had a proper question. ¡°You said that this person was a move tutor and a breeder. Who was the person the champion chose to help her pokemon, and what made you choose them over others?¡±

    ¡°It was a man who had recently traveled to Sinnoh with the hopes of starting anew. While he wasn¡¯t a battler, he showed the utmost care for his own pokemon, and that alone was enough for me to entrust him with my newest partner. His name is Ethan Reed, and he is situated deep within Eterna Forest. I have no complaints about his services, and I will use them again should the need arise.¡±

    The next reporter she motioned toward had an inquisitive look. ¡°You said deep within Eterna Forest? Out of all places, why would he go there? Surely a man with the talent to teach a champion¡¯s pokemon could choose anywhere?¡±

    ¡°I do not know his reasons, but that is where he is. The deeper regions of Eterna Forest are filled with danger, so to those newer trainers looking to get a leg up in the competition. Listen to me carefully¡­¡± She leaned in and looked directly at a nearby camera. ¡°Do not press your luck. You and your partner''s safety is paramount. Be prepared and be strong when you venture forth into the deep wilds. That¡¯ll be all from me. I hope you all enjoyed the Junior Journey Cup, and I wish the best of luck to all the participants in the future.¡±

    Cynthia stood and swept her black trench coat to the side as she released her oldest and closest friend, Garchomp. Her ferocious dragon leaned forward with a smirk, and she grinned back as she hopped onto her back. Without a word, she launched into the air, carrying them off toward Celestic town.

    With the wind blowing her long blond hair back, she gazed off toward the direction of Eterna Forest. While she couldn¡¯t do much for Ethan without giving away his origins, she could give him some well needed publicity. He chose a horrid location for his operation, but she understood that he had some attachments there. He¡¯d see some eager trainers stopping by soon, and if she were to hazard a guess¡­ There would be a lot of them.

    ¡ª-------------------------------------------------

    Ethan watched as Alba and her construction crew flew away towards Eterna. It¡¯d been a little over a week, and he couldn¡¯t help but smile at his new and completed ranch.

    As always, his berry trees stood tall, healthy, and strong. That section of his clearing didn¡¯t change very much, only having an added fence around the exterior and a wooden plank path leading down each of the rows.

    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

    The other parts of his clearing saw clear improvements. The meadow, which had been an empty field of rapidly growing grass, now had a large 50x50 foot pond which was filled with crystal clear water and deep enough to not see the bottom. He¡¯d introduced some of the creek pokemon into it, and they appeared much livelier here than in the shallow waters. Currently, he had some Magikarp, a few Feebas, a pair of Marill, and a lone Krabby.

    The bright red Magikarp didn¡¯t seem to act too differently than they had previously, but he treated them with the same care he treated the rest of his pokemon. Hopefully, they¡¯d soon develop some personality.

    The Feebas were much more distinct. They would often rise to the surface when he approached, opening and closing their mouths. They stared at him with anticipation for the incoming berries, and would even hop out of the water to catch them as he tossed them out above the waters. They were¡­ quite ugly, but he knew what they could evolve into. Maybe one day, if he tried hard enough, he¡¯d get a Milotic to guard his pond.

    The two Marill happily floated on the waters, largely ignored by the Feebas and Magikarp. Their frequent hand-holding while floating was one of the most adorable things he had ever seen. They held hands to avoid being separated as they floated about and occasionally left the water to walk over toward his farm to grab a few of the fallen berries.

    He¡¯d gotten them to follow him with the allure of free food and friendly pokemon, and they¡¯d agreed to help him out with watering some plants in exchange. They were very relaxed, and didn¡¯t seem to mind the change in location at all. It was slightly surprising, but Ethan wasn¡¯t going to look a gift Ponyta in the mouth.

    The Krabby was a mean, grouchy little guy. He¡¯d snip and snap at anyone who came near, and liked to perch on the lone rock sticking out of the pond like a little island. He gazed over his domain like he owned the place. The crab pokemon hadn¡¯t even been invited. He¡¯d just shown up one day and acted like he was the boss. He never went out of his way to attack the other pokemon, and as long as that was the case, Ethan was more than willing to let him be. The second he started trouble, he¡¯d get Pachirisu to show him who the real boss is.

    There was a small cobblestone path leading up to the pond, which ran right through his small ranch, past his new home, and out into the forest to connect to the offshoot of route 205. The Conkeldurr had spent the majority of its time creating concrete to make enough slabs for the path, and even chiseled the blocks to make them look natural. He didn¡¯t know much about the fighting type pokemon, but its skill with concrete was second to none.

    His new home was by far the best thing to be constructed. Although it was small, it was more than enough for him alone. On the front of the house, three wooden steps led up to a circular double door which swung inwards, leading into his living room. He had a couch, TV, coffee table, and everything one would need to feel at home. Looker had gone above and beyond.

    He had a fully functioning kitchen, with a granite countertop, fridge, dishwasher, sink, and enough storage for all of his new silverware, plates, and food. In the corner, next to the small square dining table, a small wooden hatch with a connected ladder led down into a miniature cellar, which was currently stocked with berries. Inside the cellar, a two foot tall tunnel led off into the earth, connecting to where Shuckle¡¯s burrow was. Shuckle could come and go, stocking his cellar whenever it was needed.

    Further inside his new home, he had a bedroom with a king-sized bed¡ªwhen he first saw it, he cried tears of joy, much to the construction crew''s confusion. The room featured an empty wardrobe, a nightstand, and a TV mounted on the far wall. Sunlight streamed through a small glass window, casting a warm glow onto the wooden floorboards and the bright pokeball shaped rug at the foot of the bed. Looking outside the window revealed his seven Oddish friends, their spot miraculously untouched by the construction.

    The room came with an attached bathroom, complete with modern plumbing. Despite its small size, the shower was a welcome luxury, especially considering the alternative of¡­ nothing.

    There was a small guest room which was furnished with the same furnishing as his bedroom, but instead of a king-sized bed, it had a smaller twin. It also didn¡¯t have an attached bathroom, which would probably cause some awkward situations when someone needed to use the bathroom during the night, as the only bathroom was in his bedroom.

    Near the dining room table, a small wooden door led out onto his new patio, which was a smooth plane of wood, raised about a foot off the ground. There were some lines of thread to be used for a clothesline, and a rocking chair to relax in right next to a fire pit. The new well was right next to the steps which led down toward the Oddish, easily in range for all of his future cooking adventures.

    Near the entrance to his clearing, marked clearly by his new cobblestone path, a plain small dirt training field was ready for use. Next to it, a campsite with a circular fire pit rested, ready to be lit.

    Ethan was extremely satisfied by what had been gifted to him. The construction of this ranch must have cost millions of pokedollars, and it would have taken a long, long time to get enough capital and connections needed to get this built by himself.

    Hopefully, with the signs he had placed earlier this week along Route 205, some trainers would take the risk to travel here. All he needed was business, and then he could see what he was truly capable of.

    Ethan walked off toward his new, much smaller farm¡ªThis one filled not with berries, but with his vegetables and rice. With the help of the Oddish, they were almost ready to be harvested.

    Chatot fluttered onto his left shoulder and chirped a melodic melody.

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot! ?¡±

    Shuckle heard the bird song and stuck his yellow head out of his burrow, curious about what was going on.

    Then, Pachirisu came flying out of the nearby forest with a giant smile and spread limbs, directly toward his face. ¡°Pachiiiiiiiiiii¡±

    With a face full of fur, Ethan laughed.

    This was the beginning of something truly amazing. He could feel it.

 Chapter 20

    Ethan watched on with laser focus as Shuckle shook his noodly limbs in straining thoughts. Pachirisu stood across from him on the training field, idling eating a berry and not really interested in the pivotal moment.

    It was the day after Ethan¡¯s ranch had been completed, and Shuckle was close to learning the move Power Split. While it wasn¡¯t as pivotal and as world changing as Power Trick, this was more than enough for Shuckle to go toe to toe with some foes. He needed this to solve some of his confidence issues. He¡¯d been trying hard throughout the week, even taking pauses in between his berry gathering and organizing.

    Shuckle¡¯s eyes squinted down to pinpointed dots as a pale, white, and foggy looking orb exited his body. Pachirisu jumped in fright as a slightly larger foggy orb exited his chest. He chittered rapidly, baffled at the scene, but it didn¡¯t seem to harm him. So, he watched on. The two orbs launched between them both, colliding in the center and becoming the same size as they continued on their paths, not hampered by the collision. The orbs re-entered the pokemon, and Shuckle started dancing from his successful use of Power Split. His yellow limbs wormed about wildly and he snaked his head from side to side in the air.

    Ethan rushed forward and lifted him into the air with a twirl. ¡°You did it! I knew you could do it! Now, when someone comes to pick on you, you can show them you¡¯re not an easy target! I¡¯m so proud of you!¡±

    Pachirisu ran around in circles on the ground, saying his name over and over, congratulating his friend. Chatot, who was practicing her singing nearby, sang a loud tune of accomplishment their way. She flew off toward his berry trees and then quickly returned with Shuckle¡¯s favorite¡ªA Durin berry. She dropped it on the ground in front of Ethan as he placed Shuckle back on solid earth.

    As Shuckle chomped on his reward with gummy jaws, Ethan continued to motivate his pokemon. ¡°I think our Oddish friends would be impressed with your new move. They might even give you some blasts of Sweet Scent. After you finish your berry, why don¡¯t you go hang-out with them as you take a break? I¡¯ll handle the gathering today. You¡¯ve earned this break.¡±

    Shuckle nodded happily as he gnawed on his now liquifying berry. Ethan turned to Pachirisu and Chatot. ¡°Chatot, great work singing today. Training your lung capacity will help you sing more beautiful songs. Pachirisu¡­ good job not falling asleep today.¡±

    They both nodded with happy cheers. ¡°I¡¯ll go make us some dinner. You guys have fun.¡±

    Pachirisu didn¡¯t waste a second before dashing off into the surrounding forests. As it was his home for his entire life, Ethan wasn¡¯t worried that he didn¡¯t know his way around. He was curious about what he got up to out in the wilds. Maybe he had some pokemon friends?

    Chatot flew over toward the pond and began singing some more. For her, singing wasn¡¯t training, it was just a fun thing to do. The Feebas and Magikarp didn¡¯t seem to care at all about the noise, and the Marill gave her slight smiles as they floated about, relaxing to the max.

    The Krabby wasn¡¯t a fan, but the sound of his snipping claws only encouraged Chatot to sing and wag her tail to its clamps. Whether or not Krabby liked it, he would be a part of the performance if he wanted to snip and be grumpy.

    Ethan went about the next few hours picking up the ripened, fallen berries from the ground and organizing them into piles near Shuckle¡¯s burrow. He also checked on his non-berry farm and watered the plants, especially the rice, as it needed a lot of water to grow.

    When he finished up and was washing his grimy hands with water from his well¡¯s pump, Ethan heard an unfamiliar voice growing louder and louder as the owner approached his home. Ethan wiped his hands dry on a towel and tossed it over his shoulder as he walked around his new patio to look down the cobblestone path.

    Coming by way of his new miniature trail. which connected to the offshoot of route 205, a young man and an unfamiliar pokemon strolled into his clearing with looks of wonder and excitement. The young man wasn¡¯t too old, maybe eighteen if Ethan had to guess, and the pokemon that walked by his side was very unique.

    The dark gray, bipedal salamander-esque pokemon stood around four feet tall, and its purple eyes scanned the clearing with interest and surprise. The pokemon was very sleek and slender in appearance, with bright pink scales that made symmetrical tattoo markings that ran across its torso, and another band of pink scales ran along the underside of its long, swinging tail.

    While they were both still busy admiring his ranch, Ethan quickly used the PocketDex to scan the unfamiliar, feminine looking pokemon.

    ¡°Salazzle ¡ª The Toxic Lizard Pokemon: Salazzle emits toxic pheromones that attract male Salandit, its devolved form, which it uses to form a devoted harem. Its potent venom can incapacitate foes with just a whiff, and it prefers to finish its prey with a burst of fiery breath. Salazzle''s cunning nature and ability to manipulate other pokemon make it a dangerous adversary in the wild. All Salazzle are female, while Salandits are primarily male. When two Salazzle meet in the wild, they will battle with their pheromones to fight over the males in their packs.¡±

    Ethan looked from his phone, then to the Salazzle with a raised brow. This was most definitely not a pokemon that he remembered. He was pretty sure he¡¯d remember harem pokemon, as that wasn''t very PG-13.

    Right as Ethan stored his phone in his pocket, the young man finally noticed him. His face, full of wonder and excitement, quickly schooled itself into one of dignity and respect. Ethan gave him a wave as he walked down the path to meet them halfway. ¡°Hey there! I see you saw my sign?¡±

    The Salazzle slowed in her gait, standing behind her trainer as she stared off into his berry fields. Ethan coughed to grab Salazzle¡¯s attention. ¡°Feel free to have some berries. Just don¡¯t bother any of the nearby pokemon.¡±

    The Salazzle turned to her trainer and fluttered her purple eyes as she shimmied provocatively. Ethan nearly choked at the scene, but the young man seemed very much used to his pokemons behavior. He sighed and lazily waved off toward the berry fields. ¡°Go on, just be care¡ª¡±

    Salazzle was gone before he could even finish his words of warning. The trainer looked like he wanted to grit his teeth, but still tried to remain cordial in front of Ethan. Not knowing how to break the ice, Ethan¡¯s first thought was to talk about pokemon. ¡°Interesting pokemon¡­¡±

    The young man blushed a bit, and Ethan couldn¡¯t really blame him. He probably got a lot of interesting looks thrown his way with a Salazzle following him around. ¡°Yes sir. She¡¯s from Alola. I¡¯ve come here to request your services as a move tutor. Do you still have open slots?¡±

    ¡°Ahh, straight to business, then. I just opened up yesterday! You¡¯re my first official customer. I¡¯ll be honest, I didn¡¯t expect someone to come by so soon. What pokemon were you looking to have tutored and did you have a move in mind? Also, my name is Ethan Reed. Yours is¡­?¡± Ethan asked as he gestured for them to continue along the path toward his home.

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    ¡°Oh! Sorry, Max Reclant. It¡¯s nice to meet you, Mr. Reed. Recently, I added a fifth pokemon to my roster, and I had high hopes for its battling potential, even given its normally poor power levels. The problem is¡­ It takes a long time for it to learn moves, and it doesn¡¯t learn moves the normal way. As I¡¯m constantly on the move, it makes the already slow process of learning moves much more difficult and infeasible. I thought that maybe someone with your expertise could help me.¡± Max was speaking quickly, obviously stressed about the pokemon not fitting in well with his team.

    When Max didn¡¯t continue, Ethan awkwardly asked, ¡°And this pokemon is¡­?¡±

    Max cringed and his face turned red in embarrassment, but answered nonetheless. ¡°It¡¯s a Smeargle.¡±

    Oh! That was a pokemon Ethan knew a good deal about. He¡¯d use a Smeargle to catch pokemon in his games all the time. False Swipe, Spore, and Soak were three of the staple moves he liked to use. A Smeargle without a four move limitation could very well be a terror in battle, so it was no wonder a trainer would pick one up.

    Ethan walked up the steps onto his patio and sat down on the lip, staring outwards toward his meadow and pond. ¡°Well, what did you want help with specifically? To my knowledge, Smeargle¡¯s learn their moves with the move Sketch. As a move tutor, I wouldn¡¯t be able to do much other than let it copy the moves of one of my pokemon.¡±

    Max hesitantly sat next to him on the lip of the patio, probably not used to, or expecting, such informality. ¡°I¡­ I want him to learn his moves quicker. I¡¯m afraid that at this rate, he won¡¯t be able to handle the rest¡ªor any of the gym battles. He¡¯s just¡­ not ready. I don¡¯t know if he will ever be ready.¡±

    Ethan nodded. It made sense. Unlike the games where a Smeargle could learn a move just by seeing it once, there was no way that¡¯s all it took here in real life. He didn¡¯t know the exact process, but he should figure it out before he offered to help at all. Failing on his first customer would be rough. ¡°Well, let''s let him out and we¡¯ll see if there are any problems I can spot. This won¡¯t be quick, so feel free to let the rest of your team out to relax around my ranch. As long as they won¡¯t cause any trouble¡­¡±

    Ethan gave him the look, but Max smiled. ¡°Sounds good to me. They won¡¯t cause any trouble, sir. We didn¡¯t get six badges without learning to be respectful.¡±

    Max grabbed four pokeballs from his waist and opened them all up in a practiced, one handed display of skill.

    As Ethan looked over Max¡¯s full team, he was glad that not all of his pokemon were as foreign as Salazzle.

    The first one he saw was a very familiar pokemon. He¡¯d already seen one on multiple occasions and even talked with them. A graceful Gardevoir floated gently as she twirled to gaze around her new location.

    The next pokemon was a tall, humanoid bunny, similar to the much smaller Buneary he¡¯d seen a little over a week ago. This pokemon looked familiar¡­ ish. He¡¯d seen it before but didn¡¯t know much about it. It was covered in short brown fur, and on its lower legs, wrists, and ears, large tufts of cream-colored fur created a stark contrasting appearance. The long eyebrows were the same cream color, and its pink eyes happily took in its new surroundings.

    The third pokemon was one he could name immediately. The cyan blue water pokemon sauntered over on all fours and rubbed itself against Max¡¯s dangling feet like a cat. Vaporeon¡¯s caudal finned tail flicked around as its frilled, webbed neck flared out and in as it breathed.

    Last was the subject of their talks: Smeargle, the beagle-like painter pokemon, was released onto the patio. It stood unconfidently, hugging its orange-tipped tail to its chest with nervous fidgets. Smeargle, bipedal and reminiscent of Snoopy from the Peanuts comic, had small, floppy ears of caramel brown. The same brown fur rimmed its eyes, wrapped around its ankles and wrists, and formed a thicker band around its neck, resembling a collar. The rest of its body was coated in faint beige fur.

    As Ethan inspected all the pokemon, Max had informed his team that they could roam the ranch and to be respectful of their surroundings. Gardevoir floated off toward the water with Vaporeon, and Lopunny hopped off into the surrounding forests with anticipation, which caused Max to facepalm.

    Ethan smiled at Smeargle. ¡°Well, let''s see if we can help you out. I¡¯m sad to say, I¡¯m not experienced with your species. How do you normally go about using your move, Sketch, to learn new moves?¡±

    Smeargle¡¯s eyes widened, and he released the right grip on his orange-tipped tail at the mention of his move, and Max frowned. ¡°What do you mean by his move Sketch?¡±

    ¡°Well, the way Smeargle learns moves is by using a move only his species knows. By using it, they effectively forget their move Sketch, and replace it with the ¡®sketched¡¯ move. They can learn almost every move that exists. I just don¡¯t know the process. So, Smeargle, how do you learn your moves? What is the correct way?¡±

    Smeargle pointed at Max¡¯s bag, which dangled from his hip. Max, knowing his pokemon much better than Ethan did, knew what it wanted. After rummaging through the bag, Max pulled out a small easel, some different colored paints, a handheld wooden painter¡¯s palette, and a framed piece of canvas. Smeargle¡¯s eyes turned up in crescents as it smiled at the painting supplies.

    It quickly took the supplies from Max with its three fingers paws and began setting up his art station on his patio. Once finished, it twisted and turned around, hugging its tail as it searched for what it needed.

    ¡°Smeargle? Smear?¡±

    The ruffle of nearby leaves caused Max to nearly jump out of his skin in fright, as three of the seven Oddish who were several feet away ruffled their head leaves as they looked around. Ethan felt a little bad for the young man, as he looked deathly afraid, having been unaware that they were there all along.

    ¡°Odd?¡±

    ¡°Oddiiishhh?¡±

    ¡°Odd-Odd!¡±

    Smeargle sheepishly looked over the patio toward the sound of pokemon.

    ¡°Smear-Smeargle?¡±

    One the Oddish uprooted itself with a few quick shakes, then waddled up toward the steps of the patio. With a determined face, it did several full body hops up each of the steps, until it stood in front of the easel. Smeargle rushed forward and grabbed his painter¡¯s palette and stood ready, eager, and happy.

    Without a word of warning, Oddish used its favorite move, Sweet Scent. The pink puff of sweet fragrance caused Max to jerk again, but Smeargle was already moving. Using its tail, it rapidly dipped the tip onto the palette full of paint and began constructing its masterpiece. Smeargle had to motion the Oddish to use the move a few more times, and Oddish didn¡¯t seem to mind it.

    After around five minutes, Smeargle took a few steps back from its canvas and licked its thumb. It closed one of its eyes and it held out its tongue and thumb, staring down at its art. After a few seconds, he nodded and turned to Max and Ethan with an enormous smile.

    Ethan clapped in celebration with a smile of his own as he stood to inspect the painting. Smeargle wasn¡¯t the painter pokemon for no reason. The artwork was fantastic. While Ethan wasn¡¯t some art connoisseur, even he could see in the emotion in the brushstrokes Smeargle had painted. The art depicted an Oddish mid movement, as a puff of pink blotches shot up from its head. The proportions were spot on, and he even got the shadows correct, given the only light-source was the sun.

    ¡°Did you learn the move?¡± Ethan asked as he continued inspecting the beautiful piece of art.

    Smeargle deflated and shook its head.

    ¡°How many times would you have to paint a move in progress to learn it? Tell me when to stop. Five times¡­ ten times¡­ twenty times¡­¡± Ethan continued until Smeargle tugged on his sleeve causing him to stop.

    When Ethan looked at the pokemon, he could see its saddened expression. ¡°You don¡¯t know, do you? You just¡­ know when you learn it, right?¡±

    Smeargle¡¯s eyes widened, but it was still sad when he nodded.

    ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Ethan looked at Max and frowned. ¡°Sadly, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be able to help you with Smeargle. Art is not something to be rushed. I could help you with another one of your pokemon?¡± Ethan offered.

    Max was disappointed, but it seemed like he was prepared for the answer. He slowly closed his eyes and took a shaky breath before he spoke. ¡°I need to have a discussion with my team¡­ I¡¯ll let you know here soon. Let¡¯s go Smeargle. We need to have a group meeting.¡±

    Ethan patted Smeargle on its beret-like head as it nervously walked off to follow its trainer.

    This was not how he thought his first tutoring would go.

 Chapter 21

    As he gathered water from his well to begin making dinner for himself and his pokemon, Ethan watched Max gather up his team for a meeting at the entrance to the meadow.

    Gardevoir, Vaporeon, and Salazzle all began making their way towards Max, seemingly used to having team meetings at sporadic times. Lopunny, who had instantly jumped off to explore the surrounded forest, crashed through some of the nearby trees, jumping over Ethan¡¯s fences with a trivial amount of effort as she wore a frustrated frown on her face¡ªMost likely from her exploration being ended prematurely.

    Smeargle stood by Max while clutching its orange-tipped tail to his chest. It looked sullen and crestfallen.

    Ethan was too far away to overhear their team meeting, not that he would eavesdrop so casually, but he didn¡¯t think he was wrong about his assumption. They were talking about Smeargle¡¯s position in their team and their goals for the future.

    Ethan took his pot into the kitchen and turned the stove on to begin boiling the water. When he was back outside, Max was kneeling down on the ground with his hands on Smeargle¡¯s shoulders. Max whispered to Smeargle and ran a hand over its head in comfort and the dog-like pokemon nodded in understanding.

    While Smeargle might have understood whatever was said, it didn¡¯t mean it felt good about the situation. It was quietly quaking as tears strolled down its cheeks.

    Max kept talking to Smeargle as he looked back to Gardevoir, who in turn listened to Smeargle''s replies and appeared to relay its response. Ethan felt like an idiot for forgetting that a psychic pokemon could translate between a pokemon and a human. Hopefully, Chatot would fill the same translator role once she got some more practice.

    Smeargle talked on for a long time, gesturing with its tail as it explained. When it was finished, Max nodded and gave his pokemon an enormous hug while whispering in its ear. When they parted, Smeargle pointed over toward Ethan with its tail, and Max nodded as he stood and held Smeargle¡¯s hand.

    As they approached, Ethan turned to face them fully. Max had looked reluctant but resolute during the team meeting, and now his face was downcast. Smeargle was sniffling, resigned about what had been discussed in their meeting. While it sounded terrible, Ethan was glad that they could come out with an understanding, even if both human and pokemon didn¡¯t like the eventual outcome.

    Max, shoulders slumped, flicked his gaze from Smeargle to Ethan. ¡°After some talks about the future and what each of us wanted¡ª¡± Max swallowed a lump in his throat. ¡°Smeargle wanted to know if you¡¯d have him on your ranch until he found what he wanted to do. I understand that this is sudden, but¡ª¡±

    ¡°Sure thing. I¡¯ll be glad to have him around.¡± Ethan replied, cutting him off nonchalantly. ¡°Pokemon come and go from my ranch all the time¡ªWild ones, at least. Having him stay around won¡¯t be an issue.¡±

    Smeargle smiled slightly as he looked at Max, giving his hand a comforting and reassuring squeeze. Max took a shaky breath and muttered, barely audibly, ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Deciding that a change of topic would be ideal, Ethan clapped his hands as he scanned the rest of Max¡¯s pokemon. ¡°Did you think of anyone else you wanted tutored?¡±

    Max shook his head. ¡°No, no¡­ To be honest with you, I wanted to get your help with Smeargle. I knew it was a long shot, but I had to take the chance, you know? So we could still be together?¡±

    Ethan nodded along slowly. ¡°I understand. Feel free to stay the night here. It¡¯s getting late, and there¡¯s a campsite near the entrance¡­ Spend some time with your pokemon.¡±

    Max straightened his shoulder and gave Ethan a nod of respect. ¡°Thank you. We¡¯ll do just that. Let¡¯s go set-up camp everyone.¡±

    Max and his team walked down his cobblestone path, chatting with one another. Smeargle still held Max¡¯s hand, and was determined to make his last day with his friends a good one. Not one full of sadness.

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot! ?¡±

    Chatot sang from up above. She perched on the roof of his house, and watched on as Max and his team began to set up camp, then she tilted her head at Ethan. He laughed and patted his shoulder, causing Chatot to fly over and land on his right shoulder. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about that happening to us. If we ever separate, it¡¯ll be because it¡¯s you that wants to leave. I promise.¡±

    ¡°Pa-chi¡­¡±

    Without gazing around, Chatot let loose an audible sigh and awkwardly climbed over Ethan¡¯s head to settle on his left shoulder. Pachirisu¡¯s white and blue furred head peered through the leaves of the surrounding Oddish like a spy, his eyes narrowing in obvious judgment.

    Once he was satisfied by Chatot¡¯s resting location, he ran forward and took his rightful spot on Ethan¡¯s right shoulder. In his hands, he held out a familiar item. It was another one of the large ginger-esque roots, just like the one Teddiursa had given him in the past. He¡¯d completely forgotten about it, but now that he wasn¡¯t in a hurry, he figured he could search on his phone to find out exactly what it was.

    But first, Ethan finished making dinner. Onigiri was easy to make, but eating the same thing over and over again wasn¡¯t ideal. So instead, Ethan tried his hand at making some fried rice, and even used his new blender to make a Sitrus berry smoothie. He used the last of his store-bought rice, as his rice crops were still growing, but did have some homegrown carrots, celery, and spring onions to use for his new dish.

    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    Pachirisu, as a species, mainly ate foraged berries. They used their shed fur to make tiny pouches filled with static electricity to hide berries in hidey-holes within the branches of trees to eat later. Any unaware berry thieves would be shocked in their attempt to take their hidden food. They could also eat normal fruits and vegetables, so Pachirisu got a portion of the fried rice with extra helpings of chopped berries.

    Chatots also ate primarily berries, fruits, or vegetables, but they also ate seeds. Pachirisu did not eat the seeds of the berries he ate, always spitting them out with a forceful use of Seed Bomb. He¡¯d recently gotten Pachirisu to stop, as he didn¡¯t need any more trees sprouting up at random, and he could use them to supplement Chatot¡¯s meals. For her portion, he sprinkled some berry seeds throughout the dish and added a hefty amount of salt, much to her pleasure.

    Shuckle¡­ Shuckle ate berries and slurped his juice. He was a pretty hands off pokemon, all things considered. Right now, he was probably sorting through his berry stash for the tenth time like the berry banker he was. Once in a while, he¡¯d let loose a quiet ¡°Shuuck¡± as he dropped off another load of berries into the cellar. It was, and had been, fully stocked, but Ethan had been taking some out to store in the refrigerator just to have Shuckle feel accomplished with his work.

    He made a bowl of chopped Durin berries for Shuckle¡¯s meal and placed it on top of the dinner table before going out to collect his berry friend.

    The front door opened easily, not leaving a trace into the ground as the house¡¯s foundation was raised, having three steps to exit or enter. So, Ethan didn¡¯t have to smooth out the ground with his foot like before.

    He walked over to Shuckle¡¯s hole, and cupped his hands. ¡°Shuckle! It¡¯s time to eat! We¡¯re waiting on you!¡±

    A moment later, Shuckle¡¯s yellow limbs and red shell crawled out of his hole. He looked at Ethan with a gentle smile and happy eyes as he flailed his limbs upwards, asking to be carried. Ethan snorted, but complied to his young pokemon¡¯s whims.

    Once back inside, Ethan placed Shuckle on the table and took his own seat. After scooting his wooden chair forward, he clapped his hands as he looked around at his family. ¡°Okay! Let¡¯s eat.¡±

    Ethan took a bite out of his normal, non-berried rice as he watched his pokemon dig in with varying attitudes. Chatot pecked at her food as she hummed a tune. Pachirisu, like always, inhaled everything on his plate, stuffing his cheeks full of yummy goodness, making him look like a proper squirrel. And his calmest friend gummily chomped on his sliced Durin berries as he slowly liquified them with his acid.

    His pokemon chatted with one another around the dinner table, talking about god knows what, but Ethan didn¡¯t care. They were happy, healthy, and enjoying the moment. He wasn''t going to spoil that with his curiosity.

    Predictably, Pachirisu was the first to finish his meal. The bundle of boundless energy looked at Ethan with what he was sure was the move Charm, and Ethan waved him off with a smile, excusing him from the dinner table.

    ¡°Pachi!¡± Pachirisu rocketed out of his chair and sprinted right out the open patio door, off to explore the forests and have some fun.

    Chatot finished second and Ethan waved her off before a mimic¡¯d version of Charm could be used on him. She calmly hopped off the table and flew outside, singing as she left.

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot! ?¡±

    Ethan was already finished eating by the time Shuckle finished, and Shuckle hadn¡¯t managed to eat all three of the berries Ethan had cut up for him. Instead, Shuckle grabbed the leftovers and shoved them into his shell. Perhaps cutting the berries for Shuckle would help make berry juice faster? He¡¯d have to test it later. He still needed to buy some of the weird corks he was recommended online.

    Ethan cleaned up the dining room, washed the dishes, and then took a stroll around his ranch. The sun was crossing over the tops of the trees, creating a yellow orange hue in the formerly light blue sky, as he strolled through the meadow to his pond, a berry filled pot in hand.

    The Feebas quickly rose to the surface as he drew near, their mouths opening and closing rapidly with little cries of their names as they anticipated the incoming food.

    ¡°Fee-Fee¡±

    ¡°Fee¡±

    ¡°Fee-Fee-Fee-¡±

    ¡°Feebas¡±

    As Ethan tossed some berries over top the water, he watched as each of the four Feebas rocketed through the water, each going after separate berries. He¡¯d been trying to figure out each of their favorites, but it was still a work in progress.

    The two Marill paddled over the water and come for their own share, which he handed to them. They each adored the yellow-green, orange dotted Liechi berries, and apple-like Leppas. The Liechis were as spicy as they got, so it was always fascinating watching the two super calm pokemon dig in with smiles. They would have loved the hot-sauce from Earth.

    The Magikarp still hadn¡¯t adopted any personality or individuality, but they did come up to the surface for food once they noticed the others were eating. They ate anything and everything, so he tossed out a random assortment of berries to de-stock his cellar, and to let Shuckle have some more work.

    Krabby, the grumpy, self-proclaimed boss of the pond, sat stalwart on his rock as he glared at Ethan. With snips and snaps, scuttles and stomps, Krabby made his message clear. He did not appreciate Ethan¡¯s presence. Ethan still threw some berries toward him, which caused Krabby to snip them out of the air, cutting them into pieces.

    Next, he strolled back home to place an Oran berry in front of each of the Oddish as they slumbered away. Their little snoozing snores barely audible even from a foot away. When they woke up, they would have a little present waiting for them.

    Finally, Ethan went to check on Max and his team. Along his walk down the cobblestone path, he ran into Lopunny, who was returning from a delve into the surrounding forests. He didn¡¯t know too much about the pokemon, but he waved at it with a smile. When it waved back, he nodded his head toward his berry trees with a grin, causing the pokemon to grin back and sprint off to grab some berries.

    It was the fastest pokemon he¡¯d seen so far, but that wasn¡¯t saying much when he had a Shuckle on the list of baselines.

    Past the training field, and near the path that leads off to Route 205, laid the camp. Max had set up a large tent and had put the firepit to use. Max sat around the firepit, which had a huge cauldron hung over it, and was chatting with his pokemon as they each ate meals from bowls.

    Max sat next to Smeargle who looked to be doing much better than he was earlier as they laughed and chatted.

    They hadn¡¯t noticed him yet, and Ethan thought that was for the best. He quietly observed their comforting companionship for a minute, before turning around and going back to his home. It wasn¡¯t his place to intrude when Smeargle was going to be splitting from them tomorrow.

    He didn¡¯t want to ruin their final night together.

 Chapter 22

    The next morning, as Ethan finished up feeding his family and friends breakfast, Max made his way up the cobblestone path with Smeargle by his side. It was still early in the morning, but Max had quite a distance to travel if he wanted to make it to Eterna City or Floaroma town. Leaving early was probably for the best.

    Ethan sat on the steps of his home and used the grooming kit he¡¯d bought in the Eterna City Pokemart to tend to Chatot¡¯s feathers, talons, and beak, as he waited for them to make their way up the path. The grooming kit was pretty simple and easy to use. He¡¯d have to buy more for many other types of pokemon in the future.

    Chatot flew up and landed on the roof as Max and Smeargle finally arrived. Ethan stood and gave them both a nod in greeting.

    Max looked at Smeargle for a few solemn seconds before he sighed and grabbed a Great ball from his waist and held it out towards Ethan. When Ethan tried to take the ball from Max¡¯s hand, Max didn¡¯t let go. With a look of absolute focus and a tone of utter seriousness, Max said, ¡°Take care of him.¡± Before finally releasing his iron grip, letting the Great ball go.

    ¡°I will. Feel free to come back with Teleport and check on him whenever you want.¡± Ethan said as he clipped the Great ball onto his belt.

    Max knelt and spoke quietly to Smeargle, saying their final goodbyes to one another, before they gave each other a long, heartfelt hug. Once finished, Smeargle walked over and stood next to Ethan, hugging his orange-tipped tail to his chest as tears welled in his eyes. Max''s throat tightened at the scene, and he had to swallow a lump of emotion. His lips parted as if he was about to say something, but he silently turned around and retreated down the cobblestone path without a word.

    They watched him leave until he turned the bend, leaving their sight. Smeargle wiped his eyes clear of tears, then nodded as he turned to Ethan with expectation.

    Ethan smiled and patted the dog-like pokemon on his head. ¡°You can stay here until you decide what you want to do. Do you want me to ask some friends about taking you in? Do you want to be a battler?¡±

    Smeargle shrugged, and Ethan shrugged along with him. ¡°Take your time. You can stay as long as you need. I¡¯d appreciate it if you could help out during your stay, but I¡¯m not sure what moves you know. Want to show me some?¡±

    ¡°Smeargle!¡±

    With a nod, Smeargle agreed and started walking off toward the training field, wanting to showcase what he could do. Ethan gave him a reassuring smile. ¡°Hold up. We have time. I want to introduce you to my pokemon. You¡¯ll be seeing each other a lot, so it¡¯s best to do introductions.¡±

    Hearing her cue, Chatot swept down through the air and landed on the ground next to Smeargle. She hopped forward, tilted her head, then sang out a welcoming tune.

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot! ?¡±

    ¡°Smeargle-Smear.¡±

    Smeargle walked around Chatot, gazing appreciatively at her colorful feathers with inquisitive eyes. As they talked to one another, Ethan walked off toward Shuckle¡¯s hole and beckoned him out to say hello. ¡°Shuckle! Come on up and say hello to Smeargle. He¡¯s going to stay with us for a while.¡±

    ¡°Shuuu?¡±

    It took a good twenty seconds, but eventually a sleepy Shuckle exited his hole. It appeared the little guy had decided to take a nap after breakfast. He blearily gazed around as he let loose a wide yawn, letting out a tiny ¡°Shuuu¡± as he did so.

    He traveled over to where Chatot and Smeargle were chatting without any of the hesitancy or wariness he¡¯d shown in the past. Ethan smiled at Shuckle¡¯s newfound confidence and trust. Helping him learn Power Split was the correct decision. He didn¡¯t like seeing his pokemon afraid, and if a little bit of training was needed to make them feel more at ease, he was more than willing to do so. They wouldn¡¯t be strong enough to tackle any of the higher leveled gyms, but they could hold their own. Hopefully.

    As Shuckle introduced himself and joined into the conversation, Ethan scanned around to see if he could spot Pachirisu. He might have already gone exploring into the forest. The boundless ball of energy hardly took breaks. Ethan cupped his hands and yelled out as loud as he could. ¡°Pachirisu! Chatot is in your spot!¡±

    The three pokemon looked toward him in surprise at his sudden yell, and Chatot gave an indignant squawk at the lies spouted. Ethan silently apologized as he waited for the inevitable. It took well over thirty seconds, but the moment eventually came.

    ¡°PACHIIIIIIIII!!!¡±

    The angry battle cry of Pachirisu warned Ethan of the incoming fur rocket before it slammed into his head. Pachirisu scrambled across his face, righting himself on his shoulder with haste as he turned to glare at Chatot. Before any argument could start, Ethan came clean. ¡°Sorry, I lied. I just needed to get your attention. Come over and say hello to Smeargle. He¡¯ll be with us for the foreseeable future, and I want him to feel comfortable.¡±

    Pachirisu looked disgusted at Ethan¡¯s blatant manipulation, but seeing another pokemon to become friends with brightened his mood. Ethan watched all his pokemon chat as they got to know Smeargle. As the conversation came to a lull, he jumped in. ¡°Did you eat breakfast already, Smeargle? If not, I can whip something up for you.¡±

    Smeargle waved off the idea, flinging his tail about with the gesture, but Shuckle saw his opportunity. Shuckle grabbed a Sitrus berry from inside his shell and held it out with a charming smile. Unable to resist the super effective move from the young pokemon, Smeargle gladly grabbed the offered treat and plopped it into his mouth.

    ¡°Okay! Now let¡¯s go and see what you¡¯re capable of.¡± Ethan led the way toward the training field, and all of his pokemon followed along, wanting to see what the new resident could do.

    When they arrived at the training field, which was mostly just a flat dirt surface with concrete lining the sides, there was a surprise waiting for them.

    Smeargle ran ahead at the familiar set of items left behind and started sorting through everything as Ethan slowly walked to catch up. Seeing what was laid before him, Ethan had to give it to Max. This was a fitting goodbye present.

    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

    Easels, paints, brushes, blank canvas¡ªAll of Smeargle¡¯s painting supplies were left in a small pile in the dead center of the training field. On the top of the pile of goods, was a sealed letter. Smeargle grabbed it and opened it up, but turned to Ethan to hand it over.

    Ethan grabbed the letter and skimmed the contents, before looking back to Smeargle, who waited anxiously, hand clutching his tail as he shifted from side to side. Ethan mentally facepalmed as he realized Smeargle couldn¡¯t read, and was expecting him to read the letter for him.

    ¡°Let¡¯s see here¡­¡± Ethan started, before reading aloud.

    ¡°Smeargle, while our time together was short, I cherished every moment we spent together. I¡¯m sorry that I wasn¡¯t good enough as a trainer to make your unique skill set work, and for being selfish in my own goals. Please, do not think that you are lesser than the rest of the team. Separating was not your fault.

    I know how much you love to paint, and I¡¯m sorry that you didn¡¯t get to paint as much as you liked while we traveled on our journey. I hope that you enjoy your time on Ethan¡¯s ranch, and that you find a new sense of purpose during your stay. I¡¯ve left something special within these items. Something I know you loved.

    I will come visit when I find the opportunity, and I¡¯ll show you many pictures of us conquering the rest of the gyms, and regale our mighty triumphs over other strong trainers.

    Thank you for not hating me for my decision to separate, but I need to prove myself. I need to win. You could have been the best of us, but we just didn¡¯t have the time...

    If Ethan treats you poorly, I¡¯ll beat up Cynthia myself.

    ~ Your friend, Max Reclant.

    Ethan lowered the letter as Smeargle looked to the ground, releasing sniffles and short barks of ¡°Sme-Smear¡­¡±

    Pachirisu wrapped his fluffy tail around the dog-painter pokemon and chittered to cheer him up.

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot! ? Chaa-tooooot! ? Chaa-toooooooooot! ? Chaa-tooooooooooooot! ?¡±

    Chatot sang an upbeat birdsong in an attempt to do the same. Shuckle looked between them all, confused and worried, not fully understanding what was or had happened.

    Once Smeargle calmed down, he ruffled through the pile of art supplies until he found the special item left behind by Max. Seeing it, even Ethan felt a heart wrenching ache.

    Smeargle held a picture in his hands, one he had obviously painted in the past. It was a full team of pokemon, and their human trainer.

    Max was kneeling with an enormous smile as he draped his hands over the shoulders of Gardevoir and Salazzle. Vaporeon sat with a regalness on the left, and Lopunny was mid karate kick on the right, a blazing fire of motivation clearly depicted in her eyes in the artwork. The backdrop was the outside of a Pokemon Center, and they all looked healthy, happy, and cheerful at a recent success.

    Smeargle just stared at the artwork for a solid minute with warring emotions before Ethan felt the need to speak. ¡°Would you like to hang that up in my home? Everyone who enters can admire it, and you will see it every day.¡±

    With a slow and gentle nod, Smeargle handed the picture off to Ethan, who held it awkwardly. He didn¡¯t have a fancy storage bag like Max did, so he would need to take this bundle of supplies back home the old-fashioned way.

    ¡°Let¡¯s take everything back to the house and then we¡¯ll see what you can do, Smeargle.¡±

    Ethan bent over to grab some more things to carry, but Smeargle patted his arm to get him to stop. Smeargle swiped his eyes to clear his tears and then swished his tail through the air like a wand. His brown eyes and orange tail began to glow with a faint purple energy. In half a second, every item stacked up on the training field was painted in an identical purple hue. They shook and vibrated before gently floating up into the air.

    Smeargle pointed his tail back toward Ethan¡¯s house, and the items began floating at a leisurely pace off toward their destination.

    The unexpected use of the move Psychic left Ethan, Pachirisu, Shuckle, and Chatot speechless, their mouths hanging open in disbelief. Ethan was the first to calm himself, as he flashed Smeargle a brilliant smile and patted his head. ¡°Well then! I guess Gardevoir taught you a thing or two, didn¡¯t she?¡±

    With another jolt of surprise, Chatot spoke up, mimicking his own voice. ¡°He.¡±

    ¡°Oh, sorry. I guess he taught you the move,¡± Ethan corrected.

    Smeargle nodded with a smile as he continued focusing on transferring the pile of art supplies across his ranch. They walked along, following the floating mass, until they touched down gently on Ethan¡¯s patio.

    Ethan crossed his arms, mightily impressed at the skillful display Psychic. ¡°That move alone is already more than useful. I¡¯m excited to see what else you can do. Once we¡¯re done, you can pick out a spot to hang your painting.¡±

    As the next hour passed, Ethan observed Smeargle showing off his moves. Surprisingly, Smeargle didn¡¯t know too many moves, but the ones he did know? They were definitely strong. He showcased Psychic, Flamethrower, Scald, Stomp, Agility, Baton Pass, and Work-Up.

    It took a while, as each of the more powerful moves, such as Psychic, Scald, and Flamethrower, drained a lot of energy from Smeargle. Ethan wanted to see all of the potential uses and applications, such as the strength, staying power, and how he could manipulate the moves. However, the most unique move was Baton Pass.

    Ethan didn¡¯t really consider the effects the move would have in a real-life scenario, as he never used the move when he played the game, but upon further review, it was definitely very useful. Smeargle would use Work-Up, to boost both its Attack and Special attack, then use Baton Pass to return himself into his pokeball without any input from Ethan.

    The Great ball at his hip unclipped itself, floated into the air and sucked him in, then dropped right onto the ground. In its former place in the air, a small foggy white cloud floated. When Ethan tested out the effects by returning and then releasing Chatot, the white fog sucked itself into the pokeball while it was midair, stuffing Chatot with the previous buffs.

    While buff transferring was all well and good, Ethan was more interested in the returning effect. Knowing that his family could return themselves into their balls when they were in danger without any of his input was something he wanted dearly, and he vowed that he would teach all of his pokemon Baton Pass if they were able.

    When Ethan asked Smeargle about what moves he was in the process of Sketching, a very long game of charades began. Ethan assumed that the move was from one of Max¡¯s pokemon, and he was correct, but going through the entire list of moves each of those four pokemon knew off the top of his head? That took a long time. But, with enough trial and error, he found out that Smeargle was closest to learning Teleport.

    Next time the Gardevoir family came around, he¡¯d need to ask for a favor.

    Right as they were wrapping up, a minor disturbance could be heard coming from the entrance of his ranch. As Ethan looked over toward the sounds, he saw a group of trainers burst through the foliage, rushing forward while competing with one another in a desperate race.

    Ethan stood frozen as he watched them sprint up his cobblestone path, right past him in their hurry, and onwards toward his home.

    ¡°What in the¡­.¡± Ethan murmured as a young girl, heaving ragged breaths, noticed him.

    She pointed a finger at him and shouted out. ¡°You! Are you Ethan Reed?!¡±

    ¡°Uhh¡­ Yes?¡± Ethan said, as his pokemon circled around him protectively.

    The girl grinned and did a fist bump as she slid her eyes toward the other five sprinting trainers. ¡°Perfect! I¡¯d like to have some of my pokemon tutored! I¡¯ll give you two-hundred thousand pokedollars if you can work on my Aipom before any of their pokemon!¡±

    Ethan stared blankly at the teen as his mind tried to process what the hell was happening.

    With all of his infinite wisdom, the only thing he managed to say was. ¡°What¡­?¡±

 Chapter 23

    ¡°Everybody! Please calm down!¡± Ethan yelled as he frantically waved his hands in front of the small crowd in front of him.

    Currently, in front of his home, a splattering of trainers yelled out in desperate attempts to catch his attention. The girl who¡¯d spotted him originally was along with them, her Aipom standing on her shoulders waving its arms and tail in excitement, completely unaware of what was going on but joyously joining in with the yelling.

    ¡°I would like¡ª¡±

    ¡°Please, hear me out¡ª¡±

    ¡°My Luxray is close to learn¡ª¡±

    ¡°I can pay more than¡ª¡±

    ¡°? CHAA-TOOOT! ?¡±

    Chatot¡¯s ear-wrenching wail caused all nearby trainers and pokemon to cover their ears, returning a comfortable silence to his peaceful ranch once more.

    As Ethan looked across the group of trainers once again, he could see even more of them making their way into his ranch from the cobblestone path. While he was glad to have customers, this was getting way out of hand. While Ethan knew he wasn¡¯t the sharpest tool in the shed, he wasn¡¯t an idiot. His sign was not this effective. Something else was the cause for the sudden surge of trainers.

    ¡°Thank you, Chatot. Now, can someone please tell me why you¡¯re all here in a desperate rush?¡±

    ¡°You taught¡ª¡±

    ¡°The Swi¡ª¡±

    ¡°I am willing to pay¡ª¡±

    Ethan sighed as he ran a hand down his face in exasperation. ¡°Stop! One at a time. You! Please explain!¡±

    He pointed to the girl with the Aipom who had spotted him first. The young girl did another fist pump, falsely assuming that Ethan was going to teach her pokemon first just because he chose her out of the group.

    ¡°Champion Cynthia had her Swinub learn Mud-Shot from you. After she sang her praises after the Junior Journey Cup, why would we not choose you over the others?¡± The girl said matter of factly as she brushed her hair over her shoulder with supreme confidence.

    Ethan¡¯s brain short-circuited as he blankly stared at the girl. He blinked a few times and shook his head, recreating the famous meme. He¡¯d only taught one Swinub, and it was Cici¡¯s. The trainer with long blonde hair, who was his age¡­ who had a carrying capacity well over the league standard¡­ Who had a black trench-coat¡­

    He raised a finger into the air and parted his lips to speak, but closed them. After rummaging through his pocket, he pulled out his phone, walked off onto his patio, and dialed Cici... Cici... C C¡­ Champion Cynthia¡­

    OH GOD! Ethan thought as the phone¡¯s slow dial tone rang in his ear. He closed his eyes in defeat, embarrassment, nervousness, and ample amounts of cringe. Should he treat her the same as he had? What was he even calling for? Did she¡ª

    ¡°Hello, Ethan.¡± The supremely smug sounding voice of Cici¡ªNo, Cynthia came from the speakers.

    ¡°Hello¡­ I¡¯m calling because a horde of trainers just stormed my ranch. They said that they heard Champion Cynthia praising my tutoring work on her Swinub. Is this true, Cynthia?¡± Ethan asked nervously, afraid of the response.

    ¡°Ethan¡­ I said you could call me Cici, remember? But, yes. I might have told everyone at a little tournament I went to about how you tutored Swinub. How many have shown up?¡±

    Ethan turned to look over his shoulder at the murmuring and excited crowd. He quickly turned away as he clutched his phone up against his ear with both hands. ¡°Seven, about to be eight. Cici¡ªCynthia. I can¡¯t tutor all of these people in a day like I did Swinub! Even if I could, I can¡¯t tutor all of these people in a week! What am I supposed to do? When I finish helping one of them, five more will appear!¡±

    ¡°Then turn some of them away or have them leave their pokemon with you for a while. Sorry, but I wish you the best of luck Ethan. I¡¯m currently a little busy as some very vital information has found its way to me this past month. I¡¯ll call you later to see how you¡¯re doing. Bye-bye!¡±

    *Click*

    Ethan stared at the smooth wooden floorboards of his patio as he slowly and blankly put his phone into his pocket. His mind reeling with the suddenness of everything.

    His hands covered his face in embarrassment as he thought back on all of their discussions they had. In hindsight, It was so obvious¡­ He said that she was the strongest in front of her face and even mentioned her pokemon.

    Oh god¡­ he had trauma dumped in front of her! He wanted to crawl into Shuckle¡¯s hole and die.

    The loudly murmuring crowd behind him knocked him out of his pity party. He took a few deep breaths and straightened his back. There was a surefire way to get through this mess, and it was a tried and true method of coping. He¡¯d put it to great use while lost, and would use the same method here!

    Forget about it and deal with it later!

    He turned around with a forced smile and got down to business. ¡°Okay! Everyone, please line up in a neat and orderly line. I¡¯m going to ask each of you some questions, then according to the answers, you will be split into groups. Anyone not complying or causing a scene will be asked to leave. Am I understood?¡±

    The nodding of heads and sure-of-themselves smirks didn¡¯t give Ethan very much hope for the outcome of this on-the-spot business attempt. But, sure enough, they did as he had asked and lined up in a straight line directly in front of his home. As he stood in front of the door, he was several steps above them so he was speaking down to them¡ªliterally, not figuratively.

    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s begin.¡± Ethan took out his phone and brought up the note taking app he¡¯d been using, as he didn¡¯t have anything to write on just yet. ¡°Your name?¡±

    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    ¡°Joji Ito. I¡¯d like for you to tutor one of my pokemon.¡± The younger, dark-haired trainer said.

    Ethan typed his name and what he wanted before continuing on. ¡°What pokemon, and what move?¡±

    ¡°My Noctowl. The move would be Stored Power.¡± Joji said as he shifted uneasily, knowing the request was difficult.

    Ethan didn¡¯t make any indication of his feelings as he inputted the information. ¡°Okay. Any special requirements needed to accommodate your pokemon? Special food, care, grooming? How is your pokemons attitude? Are they picky, calm, gentle, aggressive¡­ things like that?¡±

    Apparently, this wasn¡¯t a question Joji had been expecting, as he floundered for an answer. Ethan gave him a comforting smile to assuage his fears. ¡°Just answer truthfully. This is for your pokemon.¡±

    After roughly clearing his throat, Joji answered to the best of his ability. ¡°I¨CI feed him the standard large avian pokechow from the Pokemart. He gets along fine with most pokemon, but tends to wander off. He always comes back quickly, though!¡±

    ¡°Okay. Thanks for being honest. Would you be willing to keep him here until his tutoring is finished? Or would you like to wait and set-up camp in the campgrounds near the entrance? I cannot guarantee success or give you a suitable time frame. I will also need to ask some questions regarding some of his current moves if we decide you want to be a customer.¡±

    Joji looked flabbergasted, caught unaware of the interview like questions being thrown his way. ¡°I¡¯d like to stay here and be with him. I¡¯d be fine camping, and I, of course, understand that this is not guaranteed.¡±

    Ethan nodded with a smile as he swiped to create a new page of notes. ¡°That¡¯s great. Go ahead and step off to the side and I''ll come talk to you once I''m done with everyone here. Feel free to let your team out to rest and enjoy my ranch, but do not antagonize any of my pokemon, wild or not.¡±

    Joji nodded his understanding, his confidence and cocksure attitude gone with the wind. As he walked off toward the meadow, Ethan spoke up without looking. ¡°Be careful of the Oddish, they¡¯re a few feet to your left.¡±

    The young trainer nearly jumped out of his skin as he looked down to find a frowning, glaring Oddish peeking at him with one eye open.

    The rest of the trainers side-eyed the Oddish warily, and they all began to come to terms with who they were speaking to. It didn¡¯t matter that they were some hot-shot trainer, rich battle connoisseur, or some beginner trying their best. They were going to be treated as equals, and Ethan was in charge. This was his land, and they were about to be interrogated, judged, and sorted. If they acted out? Well, there were seven Oddish ready to pounce less than twenty feet away if the need arose.

    ¡°Next¡­ Your name?¡± Ethan asked, and the same process continued on, even as new trainers arrived and lined up at the back of the queue.

    ¡ª-------------------------------------

    ¡°Your name?¡± Ethan asked again, this time to the girl with her Aipom.

    With smothered assuredness, but still slightly confident, the trainer spoke up. ¡°Elizabeth Flamburg, and as I said before, I¡¯d like my Aipom tutored, and the move would be Double-Hit. I would be willing to camp out while I wait, and he is cheerful and friendly. I feed him berries, which isn¡¯t the most common, but I don¡¯t think you¡¯ll have a problem with that.¡±

    Ethan nodded along as he filled in the information, slightly appreciating the fact that she saved time by answering them all at once. It was also nice to hear that Aipom ate berries. Every other trainer he¡¯d talked to so far all used the standard pokechow for their pokemon¡¯s respective type.

    ¡°I assume you¡¯re trying to evolve Aipom into Ambipom?¡± Ethan asked offhandedly, as he was still taking the time to fill in the information provided.

    ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± Elizabeth answered with her chin held high as Aipom clapped his small hands in happiness, eyes crinkled with joy.

    ¡°Understood. Please step over with the other tutor candidates willing to camp. Next!¡±

    ¡ª--------------

    By the time Ethan finished gathering the information from the trainers who¡¯d shown up, his legs were sore from standing. It was only roughly forty-five minutes, but he was in full business mode the entire time and finally being able to sit down on his patio¡¯s rocking chair was a relief.

    Fourteen trainers had been the final tally as he finished, with twelve of them here for tutoring and two here for breeding¡ªOr what they referred to as a daycare service.

    Apparently, there were two different types of breeding operations. The first were breeding farms. These were what he¡¯d read about when it came to the starter pokemon, Eevee, and Growlithe, and they were what he envisioned his breeding service being. But, lo and behold, the system similar to the games existed as well, and they were what the majority of trainers sought out during their journey.

    By what he could find out stealthily on his phone while pretending to write down notes, daycare breeding was both a mixture of give and take. A trainer would leave their pokemon with the breeder with little to no expectations other than that their pokemon would be cared for and have a pleasant time¡ªsimilar to a vacation or break from battling. The trainers did this to lower their carrying capacity, enabling them to catch more pokemon for their travels and to build a team for a future gym. If the pokemon left behind at the daycare produced an egg, the trainer in question would either take the egg for a fee, or leave the egg with the daycare breeder, lowering the cost of their stay.

    As Ethan didn¡¯t have any baseline for what this service typically costs, he copied the median price for daycare services. He would be using that as his asking price. Surprisingly, it wasn¡¯t that expensive in the grand scheme of things. It amounted to thirty-thousand pokedollars, or what he imagined to be three hundred USD, for each week per pokemon. Not too bad of a deal, and Ethan would give a fifty percent discount if there would be an egg, and the trainer decided to let him keep it. This would give Ethan the opportunity to get some eggs and begin learning to care for them.

    For the tutoring, most of the moves requested he felt comfortable with. The hardest one in his mind being Stored Power for the Noctowl. The rest were fairly simple, staple, and versatile moves like Swift, Mud Shot, Bulldoze, Low Sweep, and Sucker Punch.

    But¡­ There was one trainer who he was going to flat out refuse.

    Ethan searched around the entrance to the meadow looking for the man he¡¯d have to deny and found him leaning up against the fence surrounding the meadow, separating it from his berry fields. His frazzled hair, scowl, and tarnished suit was the dead giveaway. Ethan made his way over catching the gaze of all the nearby trainers as he approached and tapped the man, Edgar, on his shoulder.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry Edgar, but I¡¯m not going to be tutoring your pokemon. You may leave.¡± Ethan said politely, but his face showed no emotion.

    Edgar swung around like an affronted bully, posturing to intimidate Ethan. His frazzled hair having sticks and leaves stuck in it from his trek through the forest. ¡°What did you say?¡± He ground out through gritted teeth.

    Ethan gestured toward the cobblestone path leading out of his ranch. ¡°I¡¯m not going to teach your Gabite Frustration. I¡¯m going to have to ask you to leave. Now.¡±

    Edgar took another step, entering into Ethan¡¯s personal space, but Ethan stood a solid six inches above the smaller man. ¡°Do you know who I¡ª¡±

    ¡°Now.¡± Ethan said flatly as he cut him off.

    Edgar gazed around at the inquisitive eyes of all the nearby trainers, causing his face to redden in embarrassment and anger. He brushed past Ethan, shoulder checking him as he stomped off to leave.

    ¡°Pachirisu, follow him to make sure he leaves without causing trouble.¡± Ethan said to the electric-rodent glaring daggers at the butt-hurt trainer from within the leaves of the Oddish.

    ¡°Pachi¡­¡± With a simple nod and the ruffling of leaves, Pachirisu disappeared into the surrounding forest.

    Ethan quickly sent a text to Cici¡ªCynthia mentioning Edgar and what move he wanted tutored. While he wasn¡¯t sure if it was illegal, the insinuation of wanting to learn Frustration said more than enough about how he treated his pokemon.

    After a deep breath and a long suffering exhale, Ethan turned toward the other trainers. ¡°Well, then. I¡¯m willing to work with the rest of you. Let¡¯s get down to some specifics¡­¡±

 Chapter 24

    ¡°For the sake of saving both me and you a lot of time, I¡¯m going to speak to you all as a group. If anything I say or ask concerns you, please don¡¯t hesitate to speak up. If you would prefer for me to speak to you individually and privately, please raise your hand and I¡¯ll meet with you after this talk. Any questions before I begin?¡± Ethan once again stood on his patio as he spoke down toward the small group of trainers in front of him. Their pokemon relaxing by their sides.

    Seeing that no hands raised up in the air, Ethan gave them all a gentle smile. ¡°Firstly, I see no problem with teaching or daycaring your pokemon. For the two of you who asked for the daycare service, I am asking the median price of thirty thousand per week. If your pokemon happens to make an egg during their stay, and you wish to let me keep the egg, the price will be cut in half. A fifty percent discount. Is this agreeable?¡± Ethan asked, looking at the two trainers who¡¯d requested this service. He received two happily surprised and enthusiastic nods. They probably expected him to charge more, given who had advertised for him.

    ¡°Perfect. One thing of note before we finalize the deal¡­¡± Ethan said, causing their faces to swap from happiness to a rapt attention. ¡°I do not stock the standard pokechow here at my ranch. If you would like your pokemon to continue eating the pokechow, I will, of course, feed it to them if you provide it. If not, they will eat the berries growing here as a substitute. Is this agreeable?¡±

    It wasn¡¯t just the two trainers requesting the daycare service who gave him stupefied looks, all of them did. They looked as if he said the moon was made out of cheese. After an awkward cough, Ethan carried on. ¡°I¡¯ll take all of your slightly offending looks as an okay. Dunsparce and Blitzle, feel free to roam about my ranch to your heart''s content.¡±

    As the people in front tried to school their faces and the two daycare pokemon sauntered off with their trainers to explore, Ethan looked through his notes. ¡°For those of you leaving your pokemon with me to get tutored while you continue on your journey, I am going to ask the same thirty thousand per week, if it takes that long, which I don¡¯t think it will, and fifty thousand for the moves. Any questions or concerns?¡±

    A hand rose into the sky, and Ethan nodded in their direction. ¡°What would the price of the stay be if it was only a few days?¡±

    Ethan smiled. ¡°Perfect question. If hypothetically, the move took three days to learn, and you didn¡¯t come back for a whole week, I would still charge the one week hosting fee. If you come back on day six, then I would ask half the price. If you somehow don¡¯t come back for your pokemon after two weeks, then the standard rates would apply.¡±

    Those leaving their pokemon with him nodded as if that made sense and was agreeable, letting Ethan let out a sigh of relief. He wasn¡¯t sure if what he was doing was too complicated, as he was working on the fly, but it made sense to him. As long as he understood how it worked, that is what mattered. He was the one doing everything after all.

    ¡°Perfect. One of you has a carnivorous pokemon, and I am sad to say that I do not eat meat myself, nor will I go out and collect a pokemon to feed them with either. Your pokemon may roam the surrounding forests to find a meal to supplement themselves if the berries I provide aren''t good enough or needed. I ask that you talk with your partner to see if this is a deal breaker. If you have the pokechow you normally feed them, that would also work as it contains the necessary nutrients.¡± Ethan waited with bated breath as he listened for any discontent about the meals for the carnivorous pokemon. Thankfully, they all seemed to accept the fact that he wasn¡¯t willing to go outside his own comfort zone.

    ¡°Next, for those of you staying here at the camping spot located near the entrance. There will be no camping fee, just the price of me teaching your pokemon. During your stay, you will not harm or attempt to catch any of the wild pokemon who come and go on my ranch. If you are caught doing so, you will be fined five million pokedollars and be forced to release your capture. This is non-negotiable. If you and a wild pokemon come to an agreement and wish to join amicably, then by all means, you¡¯re free to do so, but there will be no battling and capturing on my ranch. Is this understood?¡± Ethan asked, resolute in his stance. This was a deal breaker for him.

    Seeing no discontent, Ethan carried on. ¡°You and your pokemon are free to partake in my berries for the duration of your stay. You may roam about and explore my ranch freely, and you may use the training field provided as you deem fit. During the training of your pokemon, you may watch or even join in with the training. Don''t hesitate to jump in and correct me if you think there''s a more effective way to handle your Pok¨¦mon. These are your friends, partners, and family, and I completely understand and won¡¯t be offended if you choose to do so. The prices of the moves, bar Stored Power, will be set at fifty thousand pokedollars. Stored power will be taught at seventy thousand, given its complexity. Is this agreeable?¡±

    Joji, the man with the Noctowl learning Stored Power, meekly raised his hand. Ethan nodded for him to ask his question as he stored his phone in his pocket. ¡°Why is Stored Power more complex?¡±

    ¡°Stored Power increases in strength in accordance to the amount of stat increases your pokemon has. If your Noctowl does not know any stat buffing moves, it¡¯s going to be a very long and grueling uphill battle. If it does know some stat increasing moves, then it will be working with both of them in conjunction with one another to get a feel for Store Power.¡± Ethan said, garnering a bunch of impressed looks¡ªnot that he deserved it. He wasn¡¯t an expert.

    Joji seemed content after hearing the explanation and lowered his hand. ¡°Perfect! Let¡¯s not waste any time and get things underway.¡±

    ¡ª----------------------------------------

    After the quick meeting, the four trainers who were leaving their pokemon with Ethan paid him upfront through their phones, pokegear, or in one case, cash. They each said goodbye to their partners and had private conversations with them before they waved back to their friends as they left to continue on their journey.

    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    Ethan gestured over the four pokemon and motioned them toward the training field. He took in a deep breath and patted Chatot, who rested on his left shoulder as he prepared himself to teach so many pokemon at once.

    Chatot was very interested in the new pokemon who had come to rest and train at his ranch. She chattered and chirped as she fluttered her wings as she watched the Growlithe, Sneasel, Hitmonlee, and Gogoat walk off with one another toward the training field.

    This, of course, wasn¡¯t all the pokemon he¡¯d be teaching, but it was the group that had been left behind with him. Just the few he¡¯d need to personally care for alongside the Dunsparce and Blitzle.

    It was obvious that Chatot had never seen or heard of these pokemon before. So, Ethan brought out his phone and used the PocketDex to gather some information for her, and both himself as a refresher.

    ¡°Dunsparce ¡ª The Land Snake Pokemon: Dunsparce spends most of its time burrowing deep underground, creating intricate tunnel systems that can stretch for miles. Its drill-like tail is perfectly suited for digging through tough soil and rock. When threatened, Dunsparce can use these tunnels to quickly escape from predators. Despite its shy nature, it is capable of defending itself with a surprising array of moves if cornered.¡±

    ¡°Blitzle ¡ª The Electrified Pokemon: Blitzle''s mane crackles with electricity, which it uses to communicate with others of its kind or to discharge excess energy. It generates electricity by galloping, storing the energy in its body to unleash powerful electric attacks. Blitzle can often be seen grazing in open fields, its mane lighting up like a beacon during thunderstorms. The blinking pattern of its mane is also a good indication of its mood, with brighter flashes signaling excitement or agitation.¡±

    ¡°Growlithe ¡ª The Puppy Pokemon: Growlithe is fiercely loyal and protective of its trainer. Its keen sense of smell allows it to track scents over great distances, making it an excellent partner for law enforcement. When it feels threatened, Growlithe can unleash a burst of intense flames to deter attackers. Despite its bravery, it remains gentle and playful with those it trusts. While not true for all Growlithe, they seem to tend toward loving spicy flavors in their food.¡±

    ¡°Sneasel ¡ª The Sharp Claw Pokemon: Sneasel is a cunning and agile predator, known for its sharp claws and swift movements. It often hunts in packs, using coordinated attacks to overwhelm its prey. Sneasel''s claws are also used to climb trees and carve out nests in the trunk. Its dark, sleek fur helps it blend into the shadows, making it a master of stealth. While Sneasels are pack hunters, they may rarely be found alone when attempting to evolve in the wild."

    ¡°Hitmonlee ¡ª The Kicking Pokemon: Hitmonlee is a rare pokemon, renowned for their powerful and precise kicks. Their legs can extend and retract, allowing them to deliver strikes from unexpected distances. Hitmonlees train relentlessly to improve their balance and flexibility, often meditating to enhance their focus. In battle, they use a variety of martial arts techniques, making them a formidable opponent. Hitmonlee is one of the three possible evolutions of Tyrogue ¡ª The Scuffle Pokemon"

    ¡°Gogoat ¡ª The Mount Pokemon: Gogoat is known for its gentle nature and incredible strength. It can carry people and heavy loads with ease, making it a reliable companion for long journeys. Gogoat has a unique ability to sense the emotions of its rider through the horns on its head, creating a deep bond of trust the longer one rides. It thrives in mountainous regions, using its surefootedness to navigate rough terrain. Gogoat''s true speed is unleashed when found on flat ground, although its turning ability is hindered.¡±

    Chatot listened closely as the voice from the app spoke about the pokemon before her. Once the voice was done, she flicked her eyes toward the Gogoat who was happily trotting down the path toward the training field. Ethan, knowing his pokemon, narrowed his eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t you da¡ª¡±

    Then, Chatot launched off his shoulder and flew straight toward Gogoat to land on its horns. Gogoat, not expecting a sudden passenger, bucked like a horse or bull, then sprinted off down the path at breakneck speeds while screaming its name.

    ¡°GO! GO! GOGOAT!¡±

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot! ?¡±

    Ethan facepalmed as the eyes of the other three pokemon slowly turned back to look at him. He raised a finger to explain himself, but saw Chatot hurriedly fluttering through the air back towards him, fear clearly displayed in her eyes.

    ¡°GOGOAT!¡± An angry and insulted Gogoat raced after her on the ground.

    Ethan looked from Chatot to the Gogoat, then to his left shoulder and connected the dots. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare bring this back to me!¡± Ethan shouted in a panic.

    Seeing the rampaging goat on a direct path straight towards him, its eyes focused on the sky above, locked onto Chatot, Ethan returned Chatot into her pokeball. Gogoat, seeing his foe disappear, looked back ahead of him to see Ethan standing in his path. Its eyes widened in panic as it pushed its feet into the concrete in a desperate attempt to slow down.

    Ethan, like a deer in the headlights, panicked and watched the scene unfold in front of him. Instead of doing the smart thing and diving out of the way, he chose to be an idiot and grabbed Gogoat¡¯s horns as it came barreling toward him. He planted his feet into the ground, shoving against the goat pokemon. He strained with all his might in an attempt to slow the pokemon, and eventually, his effort bore fruit.

    With a white knuckled grip onto Gogoats horns, Ethan heaved for air as his now wobbly legs gave out. All his strength was used in the moronic attempt to slow down the goat. Gogoat, for his part, just stared blankly at Ethan, who had managed to come out unscratched from its charge.

    A slow clapping was heard from off the beaten path, and Ethan managed to see Sneasel¡¯s grin as it clapped mockingly at his attempt to save his life.

    ¡°Ha¡ªHaha. Very funny.¡± Ethan managed to utter out between breaths as he righted himself on shaky legs.

    ¡°Okay¡­ Sorry about Chatot, Gogoat. I¡¯ll make sure that doesn¡¯t happen again. You have my word. Feel free to grab some berries on your way to the training field as an apology. I¡¯ll get Chatot to properly apologize to you later.¡±

    The Gogoat didn¡¯t move. It continued to stare at Ethan like he¡¯d grown another head. It owlishly blinked its eyes, knocking itself out of its confusion, then walked around Ethan and dipped its head under his legs, launching Ethan onto its back. Ethan gripped its horns in a panic, but slowly loosened its grip as he realized he was getting a free ride.

    ¡°Th¡ªThanks. Sorry again.¡±

    The Gogoat huffed but plodded along down the road, catching up to the other three pokemon who had continued toward the training field.

 Chapter 25

    As Ethan arrived at the training field atop Gogoat, followed along by Hitmonlee, Growlith, and Sneasel, he saw the other six trainers over on the campgrounds setting up their tents and supplies.

    As Gogoat trotted around in circles, content to carry Ethan around for fun, Ethan swiveled his head as he watched the six trainers work alongside their pokemon¡ªthe ones he¡¯d be tutoring.

    Elizabeth, the blonde-haired teen with her Aipom, worked on setting up an enormous tent alongside her partner. Made from a durable green fabric, the tent was raised using several poles, and had a small fan attached at the rear, which brought in outside air to cool and keep the tent inflated. Aipom was busy hammering in the pitons, attaching the tent to the ground as Elizabeth held the tall poles steady. The tent could easily hold four or five people comfortably. Maybe Elizabeth liked to sleep with her pokemon out of their pokeballs? It was probably much safer that way.

    Aipom would be learning the move Double Hit. Which, to Ethan, sounded very easy to teach. He just had to get Aipom¡­ to well, hit twice? He wasn¡¯t sure why his services were required, if that was truly the case.

    Joji had set up his much smaller, single-person tent as Noctowl stood on the ground nearby. Its head repeatedly drooped downwards before jolting back up. The nocturnal pokemon dearly trying to stay awake in the midday sun.

    The other four trainers each did the same with their equally small tents. Their pokemon resting by their sides.

    Joanna, a very tanned woman with dark hair in her early twenties, sat on the lip of the stone firepit with her Mawile resting in her lap. Ethan had seen, and even used, a Mawile during his adventures in the video games, but he had always imagined them being much larger.

    In reality, Mawile was a very short pokemon, standing only a little over two feet tall. In his mind, he imagined them to be maybe four feet tall¡ªup to his waist at the least. He was obviously wrong, but he was a little excited to teach the pokemon Iron Head, as he¡¯d always thought Mawiles were cool looking pokemon.

    The other three trainers were siblings, which was surprising, as none of them looked remotely alike in any way shape or form. They each had familiar pokemon, being Simisage, Simipour, and Simisear, each of them were looking to learn the move Work-Up. So, thankfully, he could do the monkey trio¡¯s tutoring at the same time.

    Ethan remembered getting the TM for Work-Up from the trio of gym leaders in Unova, right around when you got a monkey for yourself¡­ He¡¯d have to research TM¡®s in the future.

    To prepare for the tutoring, Ethan dismounted Gogoat with as much grace as he could manage, but still ended up falling on his butt. As he rose from the ground with a wince, Pachirisu returned and stayed near the sidelines. He circled around like a dog looking for the perfect sleeping position, then plopped down, using his poofy tail as a pillow. Seeing as Pachirisu didn¡¯t seem worried, he assumed Edgar, the trainer with the Gabite, had left peacefully.

    ¡°Okay! Let¡¯s get you four started on your moves while we wait for the other to finish with setting up their tents. Hitmonlee, you¡¯re going to be learning Low Sweep. You are by far, more of an expert when it comes to martial arts, so I¡¯m going to be explaining the effects of the move and how it looks. You¡¯re going to use your expertise to bring it into reality. I may give some pointers here or there, but once again, you¡¯ll know better than me when it comes to form.¡±

    Ethan walked over and attempted a very amateur rendition of a Low Sweep, which was exactly as it sounded. With a small spin to gather centrifugal force, Ethan swept the ground with one of his legs. ¡°The idea is similar to that of Low Kick, a move that topples your opponent. Do you know that move?¡±

    Hitmonlee nodded as he listened and observed with absolute focus. ¡°Hitmon.¡±

    ¡°Good. Now, this move is not aiming to topple your foe, but to reduce their speed. It also does a hefty amount of damage as well. I assume by dealing a blow to the legs of your opponent will be more than enough for the damage portion, and the damage itself may lower the speed. With your unique physicality, you should have a pretty easy time getting this move down. Now, go ahead and try. Look to use your legs like whips.¡±

    Without further ado, Hitmonlee walked out into an open space and did a picture perfect leg sweep. Its already long legs extended like pulled springs, elongating and whipping through the air, creating a pleasing swooshing sound as his leg fought against the air pressure. If Ethan had been hit by that, both of his legs would be broken and mangled.

    ¡°Great! Keep practicing that. Later, we¡¯ll see if we can¡¯t find you an opponent to test yourself against. Try to remember the feeling of using your fighting type energy as you go through the motions.¡± Ethan let Hitmonlee practice as he wandered over toward Sneasel.

    Sneasel didn¡¯t look impressed or curious at all. He was more focused on sharpening his claws by raking them against one another, causing small sparks to fly off into the air.

    ¡°Alright Sneasel, you¡¯re here to learn Sucker Punch. It¡¯s a pretty staple move, so it shouldn''t be too much of an issue for you. The general idea of the move is for you to punch your opponent before they can act, getting an actual sucker punch in. For this, I''m going to have one of my pokemon be your training partner, as you need an actual partner to learn this move.¡± Ethan unclipped Chatot¡¯s pokeball and released her out in front of Sneasel.

    Chatot refused to meet Ethan''s eyes, knowing that she was in trouble and that this training was her form of punishment. ¡°Chatot, you¡¯re going to be helping Sneasel learn the move Sucker Punch while you try to learn the move Thief.¡±

    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    Ethan wandered off and gathered a few oran berries from the nearby trees and returned to place the pile next to Sneasel. When seeing the small pile of berries, Sneasel raised an eyebrow in inquisitiveness. ¡°Sneasel, you''re going to hold onto a berry. Chatot is going to try and take it from you, and you¡¯re going to try and punch her before she can steal it. If she manages to take it, she can eat it. If you manage to keep it away, you get to eat it. Each steal or block earns a point, and the first to ten points gets to go out into my fields and pick ten of their favorite berries as a prize.¡±

    Ethan looked between the two pokemon, who were enticed by the idea of the game and the rewards. ¡°Time starts now.¡± Ethan said with a smirk, as Chatot launched herself forward, trying to snap up the singular Oran berry Sneasel held casually.

    Sneasel blinked as he looked down, finding an empty palm. ¡°I¡¯ll be keeping an eye out and tracking your points. No cheating.¡± Ethan finished as he wandered over toward Growlithe who watched the two pokemon play their game with a wagging tail.

    ¡°Now, for you, we have an interesting move. It¡¯s a move I''ve taught before, so we shouldn¡¯t have too hard of a time. The thing is, it¡¯s best to wait for the stars to come out. So¡­ feel free and enjoy the ranch until then.¡± Ethan said to the Growlithe, who let loose a happy yip as he ran off toward through the berry trees to explore.

    Teaching a Growlithe Swift wasn¡¯t what he would have done, but he supposed it was always somewhat useful, as it wasn¡¯t able to miss.

    ¡°And last but not least, we have you Gogoat¡ªThanks for the ride by the way, I''m still a little sore.¡± Gogoat bleeted as he rubbed his horned head into Ethan¡¯s side, nearly shoving him over in the process.

    ¡°You¡¯re here to learn Bulldoze, and judging by the way you almost bulldozed over me earlier, I think you¡¯ll do fine.¡± Ethan snorted.

    As he explained the ins and outs of what he expected, making sure to include the knowledge that this was a ground type move that lowered speed, the others had just finished setting up their camps. They stood by the side of the training field, watching with intrigue as the four pokemon out and about practiced their moves.

    ¡°Elizabeth! Come over here with your Aipom and we¡¯ll get started.¡± Ethan waved the blonde-haired girl over. Her Aipom, thinking that Ethan was waving at it, eagerly waved back as they both approached, causing him to smile.

    ¡°Double Hit should be the easiest of the moves to teach out of the bunch. He might even finish and evolve today.¡± Elizabeth opened her mouth in shock, but Ethan ignored her as he continued speaking.

    ¡°Elizabeth, what moves does Aipom know already?¡± He asked.

    Elizabeth squared her shoulders, met Ethan¡¯s eyes, and listed off the moves. ¡°Scratch, Screech, and Tickle.¡±

    While waiting a few awkward seconds for Elizabeth to continue on, Ethan finally realized that she was done. ¡°Uh¡­ How old is Aipom?¡±

    With a smile Elizabeth patted Aipom''s head as he jumped excitedly on her shoulder. ¡°He¡¯s three months old!¡±

    ¡°You are well-aware that Aipom is still a very young pokemon and has a lot of growing to do, correct? Evolving him now would hamper his growth. Has he participated in any battles?¡± Ethan asked cautiously.

    Elizabeth looked proud and haughty as she swung her hair over her shoulder and planted her arms on her hips. ¡°Of course he has! He¡¯s been in two!¡± She finished with a bright smile as Aipom cheered his own name.

    Ethan sighed. ¡°I wasn¡¯t aware of how young your pokemon was. I¡ªI do not think that he should be looking to evolve right now. He needs to grow strong and build himself a good foundation to rest on¡­ Perhaps you have another pokemon you¡¯d like me to tu¡ª¡±

    ¡°No! You said you agreed! I already paid!¡± Elizabeth looked affronted by the mere suggestion that Aipom shouldn¡¯t be evolving.

    After thinking for a moment as Elizabeth simmered in front of him, Ethan took out his phone to make a call. ¡°Give me one moment to consult a professional. Perhaps you¡¯re right and I am wrong. It¡¯s best to be sure, in case it harms your friend¡­ Right?¡±

    After a not too confident nod, Elizabeth agreed. Ethan walked off to the side of the training field while keeping an eye out on the pokemon going through the motions of learning their moves as he dialed Looker.

    ¡°Ethan.¡±

    ¡°Looker, I know that this is a weird question, but can you give me the phone number for the Eterna City Nurse Joy? I have a pokemon health question to ask and it¡¯s pretty important.¡±

    After listening to the shuffling of papers and the handling of a phone, Looker listed off Nurse Joy¡¯s number before promptly hanging up without another word.

    Slightly miffed at the abrupt ending and impoliteness of the call, Ethan dialed Nurse Joy. After a few rings, the familiar and cheery voice answered.

    ¡°Hello? Joyce speaking.¡±

    Ethan¡¯s brain halted like a kid meeting his teacher outside of school, realizing that they had an actual life and a first name. ¡°Hey, Nurse Jo¡ªJoyce. This is Ethan.¡±

    ¡°Oh?! Ethan! How are you and Chatot doing? I hope you¡¯re not calling because you need help out there in the wilderness.¡± Joyce Joy¡¯s voice was both happy and slightly admonishing at the same time, a weird combination.

    ¡°No, we¡¯re fine and healthy out here, but I have a tutor customer here attempting to evolve her Aipom by learning the move Double Hit. The thing is, the Aipom is very young. I¡¯m not an expert on the health and safety of pokemon like you are, so I was wondering if this is something that is okay or not? The Aipom looks healthy and happy to me, but it¡¯s only three months old and has only been in two battles.¡± Ethan listed his worries, and waiting for Nurse Joy to respond.

    ¡°Is the trainer there?¡± She asked, voice even.

    ¡°Yes, they¡ª¡±

    ¡°Put them on the phone.¡± The tone brokered no argument, so Ethan meekly turned his head to Elizabeth and waved her over. Elizabeth strutted forward with confidence and a smirk as Ethan held out the phone for her to take.

    ¡°Elizabeth Flamburg speaking.¡± She said haughtily into the phone, like her name was important.

    The next second, from even a few feet away, Ethan could hear the absolute berating and talking down being delivered over the phone. Elizabeth held the phone outwards as she winced, and Aipom continued clapping in joy. After what must have been twenty seconds of screaming, Elizabeth frowned and began to talk back with heat in her voice, which promptly faded away as even louder screaming nearly blew out his cheap phone speakers.

    Ethan pretended to observe the ongoing training, keeping his face neutral and Elizabeth kept trying to explain her side of things, which only made it worse. She walked off with his phone to get some privacy, her voice low and apologetic as she murmured into the phone.

    He had one thought and one thought only.

    Thank god he didn¡¯t teach the Aipom¡­

 Chapter 26

    After setting up the three Simi-monkeys to start their training, their trainers nearby and observing, Ethan saw his little berry bug trudging up the road with a new friend by his side.

    Shuckle used his long noodle limbs to pull himself over the cobblestone path while he chatted happily with the Dunsparce who flapped its little wings as it talked back. A week ago, Ethan would have been shocked by seeing his timid friend chatting with a random pokemon and becoming friends, but his little guy had come a long way. It also helped that Dunsparce was similar to Shuckle, both living underground and hiding from would-be predators. From what little he could recall about Dunsparce as a pokemon, they were often seen as being weak. Maybe things were different here in real life, but he liked to think that was another piece of common ground between them.

    ¡°Shuckle! I need your help with tutoring! Don¡¯t worry, your new friend can watch.¡± Ethan said with a smile as Shuckle flailed its arms and withdrew his head in embarrassment. Apparently, Ethan was the embarrassing dad. But, even if he was embarrassed, it didn¡¯t stop Shuckle from coming over and making grabby flails with all four of its limbs with a smile, asking to be picked up.

    Ethan hoisted his shelled pokemon up to cradle in his arms as he wandered over to Mawile and Noctowl. Seeing Ethan approach, both the pokemon perked up and walked or hopped away from their trainers, forward to meet him out in the field. Their size differential was slightly humorous, as Ethan hadn¡¯t seen too many giant pokemon¡ªNoctowl, standing a head over Ethan¡¯s six foot, fit the bill of being giant in his mind.

    When he placed Shuckle down on the ground, Ethan watched with an at ease smile as Shuckle took in the two pokemon in front of him. He inspected the small Mawile curiously, but went stock still upon seeing the enormous avian, quickly withdrawing into his shell and actually using the move.

    Ethan nudged Shuckle¡¯s shell with his foot. ¡°Shuckle, they won¡¯t hurt you. I¡¯ve told you this before. As long as you¡¯re on my ranch, you will be safe. Would I have asked you to come over here if I thought you were going to be attacked?¡±

    Shuckle slowly stuck his head out of the backside of his shell to look at Ethan. After a hesitant shake of the head, Ethan nodded with a confident, beaming smile. ¡°Great! Now, I want you to stand here and use Withdraw as both Mawile¡ªThat¡¯s the small one, and Noctowl try to learn moves on you.¡±

    Shuckle looked at Ethan with mouth agape in abject horror. Ethan was confused by the reaction, but he schooled his face as he realized he just told Shuckle that he wouldn¡¯t come to harm then asked him to sit there as a target. He quickly and worriedly waved his hands with a forced smile as he took a step toward Shuckle, who retreated and used Withdraw once again.

    ¡°Ooooh Shuuuuckllleeee.¡± Ethan said in a sing-song voice as he knelt down. ¡°Listen¡­ They aren¡¯t going to harm you for real. Remember what I said about your defenses? I wouldn¡¯t call on you if I thought you¡¯d get hurt. It¡¯ll be like when Pachirisu helped you learn Power Split. You¡¯ll be doing the same for these two pokemon.¡±

    In response, Ethan was greeted by another blue sheen of Withdraw. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to do this, give me a loud shu¡ª¡±

    ¡°SHUCK!!!¡± The muffled voice of shuckle screamed from inside his shell, cutting Ethan off.

    With a sigh, Ethan picked Shuckle up and placed him by Dunsparce, who was sitting by the side of the field watching everyone train with interest as he flapped his wings and idly dug gouges into the ground with its thick tail. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Shuckle.¡± Ethan whispered as he walked back to help out the final two pokemon.

    <hr>

    After a few hours of training, Ethan could already see that a lot of the pokemon had improved significantly on learning their respective moves¡ªEspecially Sneasel and Chatot.

    While Ethan had one-hundred percent lied about him keeping track of the score, it didn¡¯t seem to matter. As it turns out, Chatot had a competitive side to her. What quickly started out as a fun game of keep away and steal, quickly turned into a battle of egos. Sneasel had even managed to use the move Sucker Punch successfully once already, but it had apparently been a fluke, as they¡¯d never done it again since.

    Chatot had managed to steal a few of the Oran berries so far, but not with the move Thief. At the moment, both pokemon were covered in scuffs and hadn¡¯t taken a break. They only paused once Sneasel bent down to grab another berry and found that the small pile they¡¯d started with was gone. In its place, was Ethan''s feet.

    As he looked down at the Sneasel who gazed up at him with confusion, Ethan held his grin back. ¡°Time for a break. We¡¯ll start again in an hour. For working so hard, each of you go and grab whatever, and however many berries you want.¡±

    Without needing to be told twice, Chatot sped off through the trees, causing several leaves to softly glide to the ground, knocked loose from her warpath.

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot! ?¡±

    Sneasel stood there awkwardly, still winding down from their intense game-turned-battle. Seeing an opportunity, Ethan nodded off toward the berry field to have Sneasel follow him along as he guided her through his many different options. As they walked through the rows of trees, he spotted several of the other pokemon scouting around for their favorites, some with their trainers.

    ¡°So, I know that wasn¡¯t a real battle¡­ but how would you rate Chatot in terms of strength?¡± Ethan asked conversationally as Sneasel inspected a few of the nearby berries. It held up a hand and did a see-saw motion.

    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    Ethan hummed. ¡°I know she couldn¡¯t beat you, if that¡¯s what you''re worried about. The type advantage alone would be rough and she hasn¡¯t battled a trained pokemon before.¡±

    Sneasel gave him an inquisitive look, slightly surprised by the information. It held its chin as it tapped a foot on the ground, mimicking a deep thought before holding up three claws.

    Not knowing what the three meant, Ethan started guessing. ¡°Three¡­ berries? For the information?¡±

    Sneasel scoffed and rolled its eyes, thinking Ethan an idiot. It looked at the dirt and dug its sharp claws into the ground, scraping a tiny picture. It carved eight deep furrowing lines into the soft earth with trivial ease, then tallied off three of them.

    Ethan tried to decipher the meaning, taking into account that this pokemon was a battler of a trainer. The only thing he could think of that had to deal with the number eight that they would care about would be badges. ¡°Three badges?¡±

    Sneasel tapped its temple with a smirk and sauntered off to inspect more berries as Ethan thought about what that meant. Was Chatot at the strength of a three badge trainer? That was¡­ pretty good? Most trainers made it to four badges, so he considered that great for a pokemon not used to battling. It probably helped that Chatot as a species didn¡¯t evolve and were already in their ¡®fully evolved¡¯ form.

    Sneasel and Ethan wandered around his fields until Sneasel¡¯s arms were full of the apple-like Leppa berries, the orange and yellow spinning top shaped Figy berries, and some Lechi berries, which looked to be a favorite of many types of pokemon. All of them were super spicy, so Ethan grabbed his fair share to hand out to Growlithe for when he came across the pupper.

    And coming across the fiery-dog didn¡¯t take too long at all, as when Ethan and Sneasel came out the other end of his field of trees and gazed out into the meadow, a beautiful heartwarming scene was breaking out in front of him.

    Growlithe prowled through the taller grass, its rear end shaking while stuck up high in the air. No doubt in preparation for its pounce on the all-too-knowing Blitzle who pretended to be unaware. With a playful yip, Growlithe launched out of the tall grass and flew by the Blitzle who laughed as it blitzed away¨C a very apt description of the pokemons name.

    As the electric equine laughed and galloped away from the barking hound, its mane buzzing and thrumming with electricity, it was caught unaware by the stealthy Gogoat who had laid in the grass to blend in with the surroundings. For such a large pokemon, it hid quite well. Its surprising and playful tackle brought them into a large heap on the ground as Growlithe finally caught up and added himself on top, creating a dog-pile.

    Ethan smiled at the playing pokemon, then laughed loudly as Pachirisu and Smeargle dove from the nearby grass to join in. Their screams of battle reminded him of the Teddiursa.

    ¡°PACHI!¡±

    ¡°SMEAR!¡±

    Off to the side, glaring with grumpiness from the pond¡¯s singular jutting rock, Krabby snipped its claws in an angry wave, releasing bubbles from its slightly foaming mouth. The Maril, who he was sure were a couple, watched the show contentedly as they floated on top of the water.

    Sparing a look toward Sneasel, yielding Ethan with the sight of an older teen looking down on the childish behavior of its younger siblings, making him laugh even more. Sneasel pretended he didn¡¯t exist, simply chomping on some of the berries he had as he watched the pokemon play.

    ¡°You could join in, you know? Your trainer isn¡¯t here to see. What happens on the ranch, stays on the ranch.¡±

    Sneasel glanced at Ethan just to make sure it wasn¡¯t being made fun of, before swinging its gaze back to the playing pokemon. It thought for a moment, shrugged, dropped its berries, then darted into the tall grass with a smirk.

    Ethan watched Sneasel as it joined in on the game of what looked to be tag for a few minutes before going to his garden, picking some food, and heading toward his home to prepare himself some food.

    As he washed his vegetables on his patio by the Oddish, the shaking of leaves drew his attention. He slowed in his washing as he peered over his patio to see one of the snoozing Oddish vibrating. Fearing something was wrong with it, he placed his vegetables to the side and hopped off his patio, landing with a thud as he walked closer.

    The other Oddish, hearing the shaking leaves, all slowly blinked their sleepy eyes open and turned to look at their companion. As soon as they saw what was happening, every single one of them instantly pulled themselves from the earth like onions and began to dance with smiles in a circle around their vibrating friend.

    ¡°Oddish-Oddish!¡±

    ¡°Oddish-Oddish!¡±

    ¡°Oddish-Oddish!¡±

    ¡°Oddish-Oddish!¡±

    ¡°Oddish-Oddish!¡±

    They sang their names while spinning and twirling in a large circle, which slowly widened and shrunk with their dance.

    Ethan took a few steps back, confident that nothing was wrong with the Oddish, given their companions happiness.

    Then, the vibrating Oddish was suddenly encapsulated in a blinding white light. Ethan shielded his eyes with his arm to shield them from the blinding light, but still did his best to witness what he assumed was an evolution. The first one he¡¯d ever witnessed.

    Half of the leaves which rested on top of the Oddish flattened, while the other half curled into themselves, creating four round orbs on the top of its head. At the same time, the Oddish¡¯s normally small body ballooned to triple the original size. Where there used to be a small mouth and two tiny, beady eyes, now had a large gaping mouth and two large eyes. Two tiny arms sprouted out from its sides, then once that was complete, the blinding white light faded, revealing a new pokemon.

    With a giant sappy smile with drool drooping out the side of its mouth, the new pokemon was swarmed by its excited brethren.

    ¡°Gloooom.¡± The formerly squeaky voice was now a low baritone as it yawned out its name.

    Ethan felt happiness well up inside his chest. ¡°Congratulations!¡± Ethan said as he stood back and let the pokemon have their moment with one another.

    The Gloom gave him a nod of recognition as it patted the heads of its now much smaller friends and family. Ethan took out his phone and used the PocketDex to scan the new pokemon, as well as the smaller ones.

    ¡°Oddish - The Weed Pokemon: Oddish is nocturnal, spending its days buried in the ground to gather sunlight, with only its leaves exposed. At night, it roams fields and forests, absorbing moonlight to nourish itself. It can often be found leaving trails of glowing spores as it moves. When threatened, Oddish emits a strong, bitter scent from its leaves to deter predators and ensure its safety. When happy or content, it releases the fragrant aroma of Sweet Scent."

    ¡°Gloom - The Weed Pokemon: Gloom releases a foul-smelling odor from its pistil to ward off predators, an aroma so potent that it can cause fainting. Despite its smell, the nectar it produces, which has the appearance of drool, is incredibly sweet and often sought after by collectors in the creation of perfume. Glooms nectar enhances the growth of all plantlife, acting as an excellent fertilizer. Gloom is most active at night, absorbing moonlight to enhance its growth. When it is happy or content, its odor becomes pleasant and soothes and calms those nearby.¡±

    Ethan lowered his phone and took a deep breath. ¡°This day is getting more and more interesting.¡±

 Chapter 27

    After eating lunch, rounding up the playing pokemon, and finishing the afternoon training, Ethan was feeling pretty drained. Emotionally, that is.

    Previously, he¡¯d been tutoring pokemon one-on-one or in small groups¡ªThe Oddish and their dances were a good example. While the simi¡¯s fit into that subsection of prior experience, bouncing between several different pokemon, who were each attempting to learn their own unique moves, wasn¡¯t anything he was used to.

    As Ethan praised and had small individual conversations with each of the tutoring pokemon before they wandered off to explore or return to their trainers, he gave a tired smile to the Growlithe who had been waiting patiently all day¡­ Okay, he just played around and kept himself busy all day. No patience to be found.

    As Growlithe trotted over toward him, Ethan thought about the progress each of the pokemon had shown throughout the day. Hitmonlee was an excellent martial artist, quickly adapting his movements to make his actions smoother and more efficient. At the moment, the fighting chicken-nugget with legs could use Leg Sweep twenty percent of the time. He would easily complete his beginner''s mastery over the move tomorrow, Ethan was sure of it.

    Sneasel, like Hitmonlee, would more than likely also complete Sucker Punch tomorrow. The tough berry stealing competition was working wonders, and Chatot was learning quickly as a bonus. She wouldn¡¯t be learning Thief anytime soon, maybe a few days from now, but it was good practice.

    Gogoat had the movement of Bulldoze down, which wasn¡¯t a surprise, but it was struggling with adapting the ground energy into its move. Sadly, Ethan wasn¡¯t sure what he could do to help the goat pokemon, as he wasn¡¯t even sure if he was going about teaching moves the proper way. He was operating by feel and common sense. Definitely not something you wanted to hear a ¡®professional¡¯ say aloud. The best he could do for the goat was to have Pachirisu show him the move Dig a few times, hoping that seeing a ground move in action helped.

    The three colorful monkeys, with their equally colorful trainers, were tackling the tutoring process slow and steady. The gentle, playful, and colorful pokemon were having a hard time getting their head into the zone and amping up their thoughts and actions to learn the move Work-Up. They¡¯d get it after a few more days of training¡­ Hopefully, he wasn¡¯t quite sure.

    The large Noctowl was in the same boat as the three monkeys. Partly because it was having to use the move Calm Mind a lot throughout the day, draining a lot of its energy while doing so. The big-bird often fell asleep in broad daylight, unbeknownst to everyone nearby, as they thought it was simply using Calm Mind. Tutoring a nocturnal pokemon had its own fair share of struggles. At least Joji, Noctowl¡¯s trainer, had a good grasp and understanding with his pokemon. They were fine to take it slow and steady, and they¡¯d need to if they wanted to learn Stored Power.

    He felt a little bad about how Elizabeth stormed off without a word after her¡­ chat with Nurse Joy. She didn¡¯t even ask for a refund¡­ But all of his trailing thoughts stopped when the excited pup in front of him let loose a loud yip.

    ¡°Gro!¡±

    Its tail wagged back and forth as its tongue lolled about, waiting for orders. Without looking away or dropping his slight smile, Ethan spoke aloud. ¡°Pachirisu, come over here and teach this beacon of justice and duty about the stars. He¡¯s learning Swift.¡±

    Pachirisu leaped ahead from the edge of the training field, finishing its chat with Smeargle, who had begun their own special training by painting earlier in the day. When Pachirisu arrived at the excited doggy, he gave Ethan a confident nod and a mock salute.

    ¡°Pachi-Pach!¡±

    Ethan rolled his eyes and listened to the pokemon have their own conversation. Growlithe¡¯s excitement dulled to an intent listening as it nodded to Pachirisu¡¯s words. When they both gazed upwards into the darkening night sky and beheld the twinkling stars up above, Ethan jumped in. ¡°Each of those tiny lights¡ªstars, is a sun. Just like the one that gives us the light of day. I don¡¯t know for sure, but I think there¡¯s a bunch of different pokemon who live up there, waiting to be found. Solrock and Lunatone are both from space I think.¡±

    Both the pokemon looked away to find Ethan gazing upwards with a twinkle in his eye. ¡°Each one of those tiny stars could swallow this world whole. They¡¯re brimming with untold, unmatched, but attainable power. Power that I want you to hold as your own. Pachirisu, use Swift. Aim for the stars. Show Growlithe what he¡¯s shooting for.¡±

    Pachirisu scrambled forward, climbed up Ethan¡¯s leg, and took his rightful place before flinging his poofy tail forward with a small yell, sending forth a sea of twinkling white stars which disappeared and blended in with the real ones up in the night sky.

    ¡°Pachi!!!¡±

    When Ethan looked at the small fire-dog, he could see the reflection of the night sky in its dark brown eyes¡ªstars, swift, and all. ¡°This move is not easy to teach. It took Pachirisu over a week¡­ but I think you have what it takes. Go ahead and give it a go. Harness those stars for yourself. They¡¯ll never miss.¡±

    Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    Over the next few hours, Chatot, Shuckle, and Pachirisu watched on from the sidelines as Ethan did his best to teach Growlithe the move Swift. Smeargle switched from painting the pokemon and started painting a landscape view of the treetops and stars behind it.

    When Ethan noticed the small firepit of the nearby campsite dim to nothing but smoldering embers, he checked his phone and saw it was already midnight. ¡°Alright. That¡¯s enough for today, Growlithe. Time for some sleep. Do you want to sleep outside, surrounded by nature, or do you want to sleep in my house?¡±

    ¡°Gro!¡± Growlithe ran over and sat next to his feet, and he took that as a sign for sleeping indoors.

    ¡°Shuckle, go grab Growlithe some Leppas from the storage as a treat. I¡¯m dead tired.¡± Ethan released an enormous yawn. ¡°I¡¯ll leave the door cracked open. Close it when you come inside, okay?¡±

    Growlithe yipped again with a nod and sauntered off with Shuckle as the berry collector led him toward his home.

    ¡°Smeargle. I assume you want to sleep indoors as well?¡±

    ¡°Smear-Smeargle.¡± Smeargle said, as he clutched his dripping tail with a slightly nervous smile.

    Ethan laughed. ¡°The more the merrier. I even have a guest room! You can sleep in an actual bed if you want.¡±

    Chatot and Pachirisu both gave him goodnight hugs before flying and scampering off into the unknown, leaving Ethan alone as he walked back to his house. Smeargle nodded at accepting the guest room as he ran after Growlithe and Shuckle, probably asking to get a midnight snack himself.

    As Ethan walked up near his home, he watched a conga line of Oddish leave his berry fields with Orans in their mouths as they trailed after the much larger Gloom. They headed out into the meadow, twirling and singing to one another. While he knew the Oddish slept during the day, he¡¯d never taken the time to watch what they did at night. He was tired, but the day had been full of surprises, and he was willing to stay awake to see some more.

    The Oddish didn¡¯t notice him as he trailed behind, more focused on their casually dancing as they made their way out into the taller grass. He¡¯d been much too lazy to trim it down like he had before, and had let it grow much too tall. He could barely see their leafy heads through the grass as they passed through it without any trouble.

    ¡°Odddd.¡±

    ¡°Odddddddd¡±

    ¡°Odd-odddd¡±

    ¡°Oddish-odd-odd-oddddd¡±

    ¡°Gloooooo¡±

    The Oddish began circling the larger Gloom when they got into the center of the meadow. They teetered back and forth on their stubbly legs and spun around while singing their names. The Gloom leaned back, forth, and side to side as it swayed and shook its large leaves creating the sounds of a maraca from the four bulbous bulges on the top of its head.

    Ethan watched on in awe, not wanting to interrupt their little ritual. When the Gloom began shaking like it had earlier in the day, prior to its evolution, Ethan couldn¡¯t tear his gaze away. Something was about to happen.

    The large Gloom made a small ¡®pop!¡¯ sound, like that of popcorn, as tiny seeds launched out in a volley in all directions. The seeds flew far and wide in all directions as Gloom spun on its heels and shook the top of its head side to side.

    At first, Ethan thought it was the move Leech Seed, because as soon as the seeds landed, they sank and buried themselves into the ground. This idea was thrown aside as he realized only a small portion of the blown about seeds actually succeeded in being planted. He knelt down and picked one up off the ground to inspect it, as the Oddish scampered about the grass, collecting the unburied seeds and began manually planting them.

    The seed was a dark blue with a tiny sprout near the top and he had no clue what it was, or what the Oddish and Gloom were doing. One of the Oddish finally noticed his presence and squealed in a happy tone as it ran forward and headbutted his leg affectionately. After its display of affection, it noticed the seeds strewn about near him and quickly began burrowing them into the ground with its tiny feet.

    Ethan, in his wise and almighty wisdom, did as the Oddish did and planted the small seed in the ground and began to help the Oddish with the others. They all cheered and crooned as they noticed him helping.

    When he was done, the Oddish began rooting themselves into the ground and chatted happily with their friends and family. The Gloom wandered about the field, continuing to search for unburied seeds. ¡°Goodnight Oddish, Gloom.¡± Ethan said as he yawned.

    They all stared at him with some kinda expectation, but Ethan was already completely confused and out of his depth. The Oddish, seeing his confusion, sang out their names in a sing-song voice then looked directly at Ethan.

    ¡°Odd¡¯

    ¡°Oddddd¡±

    ¡°Odddddishhhh¡±

    ¡°Odd-odd¡±

    ¡°Odd-odd¡±

    ¡°I hope you¡¯re not expecting me to sing to the seeds. My singing would probably cause them to wilt.¡± Ethan said, earning unhappy frowns from the Oddish. He sighed, unable to leave them unhappy. ¡°How about a poem?¡±

    Their frowns turned upside down as their eyes crinkled in joy. Ethan took a few seconds to think of a nice poem¡ªHaikus were short and sweet, so he was going for one of those.

    ¡°Oddish, moonlit sky,

    Seeds sown under stars alight

    Ritual at night.¡±

    ¡°Odd¡¯

    ¡°Oddddd¡±

    ¡°Odddddishhhh¡±

    ¡°Odd-odd¡±

    ¡°Odd-odd¡±

    The Oddish responded with a few happy calls, indicating he met the requirements for their little ritual. As he headed home, he waved goodbye to them and caught sight of Smeargle and Growlithe as they wandered up the path from Shuckle''s hole.

    ¡°Let¡¯s head inside. I¡¯ll show you the guest room.¡± Ethan said as he opened the door and then held it open for the two pokemon to enter inside. They both gazed around the interior, taking in the new space.

    He led them to the guest room and let them both inside. ¡°Have a goodnight. Rest well, as there¡¯s more tutoring and training tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°Gro!¡±

    ¡°Smeargle.¡±

    The two dog-like pokemon wandered inside and hopped onto the bed. Smeargle, with its bipedal and humanoid motions, climbed up while Growlithe hopped on top of the bed like a normal dog. Growlithe sniffed the blankets, did a few spins, then plopped down to rest as Smeargle actually climbed underneath the covers and fluffed the pillow behind its head.

    Ethan gently closed the door and got ready to sleep himself. Tomorrow, some of the pokemon would finish learning their moves and he¡¯d have to call their trainers to let them know. Hopefully, they were just exploring Eterna Forest and not on their way to Eterna City or Floaroma town. They¡¯d have to turn right back around to pick up their partners if so.

    As Ethan closed his eyes and tucked himself into bed, he had a single thought.

    Today was a good day.

 Chapter 28

    Since Ethan had arrived in the world of pokemon, he¡¯d been awoken by many things. Weird noises in the night, the sounds of wild pokemon battling, the poofs of sweet scent, the leaking of rain through his makeshift cabin¡­ but he¡¯d never woken up to a face full of fire-dog slobber¡ªUntil now.

    ¡°Gro!¡±

    Ethan sleepily fended off the abnormally strong pokemon feebly as he did his best to hide beneath his covers. ¡°Stop¡­¡±

    ¡°Gro-growlithe!¡± Growlithe pounced on him, knocking him back and forth and attacking his feet as they moved and wiggled underneath the blankets.

    ¡°Uggg.¡± Ethan, now unable to fall back asleep, groggily threw the blankets aside and rolled out of bed. Growlithe, successful; in his morning mission of ¡®wake up Ethan¡¯ barked and launched himself off the bed and sprinted out into the living room, zoomie mode activated.

    After getting dressed, brushing his teeth, and taking a shower, Ethan left the comfort of his room to find Chatot, Shuckle, Growlithe, Smeargle, Pachirisu, Dunsparce, and Sneasel sitting around in his living room watching TV and chatting. Checking the time on his phone, he realized he¡¯d woken up much later than his usual 6:00 A.M¡ªIt was 7:30 A.M. The repercussions for staying up late, no doubt.

    Although his house had electricity, Ethan rarely used any of it. He mostly used it for charging his phone and working some of the kitchen appliances. When Alba and her construction crew built his house, they installed two solar panels on the roof. For emergencies, he also had a small generator which could be powered by an electric type pokemon¡ªPachirisu in his case.

    The pokemon all lounged about across the floor and sofa, watching the morning news¡ªExcept Growlithe, he was still zooming around at mach three. On the screen, a smiling news anchor talked about a crime bust while various images of harsh urban battles flashed in the background. A headline scrolled across the bottom of the screen in large bold letters.

    Breaking News: Champion Cynthia takes down Crime Syndicate in Epic Showdown

    ¡°... Cynthia and the underground crime syndicate, Team Galactic. In a statement following her victory, Cynthia said, "The safety and harmony of our world and the pokemon we live with are paramount. I will always stand against those who seek to disrupt the balance. Today, we showed that courage and teamwork can overcome any threat."

    Sinnoh residents have expressed their immense gratitude and relief. Jubilife City''s mayor praised Cynthia''s heroism, stating, "Cynthia''s unwavering dedication to protecting our region is an inspiration to us all. We are fortunate to have such a remarkable champion."

    With Team Galactic''s plans foiled and their leader and admins in custody, peace has been restored to the Sinnoh region. As the new day begins across the region, one thing is clear: Cynthia''s legacy as a protector and champion has only grown stronger.

    In the wake of Champion Cynthia¡¯s heroic defeat of Team Galactic, the Sinnoh region now faces the arduous task of addressing the aftermath of the villainous group''s schemes. Authorities have launched a comprehensive investigation to recover stolen Pok¨¦mon and property, as well as to repair the damage caused by the conflict here at Veilstone City. Several Pok¨¦mon that were forcibly taken from their trainers have already been recovered and are in the process of being reunited with their rightful owners.

    However, the path to full recovery is not without its challenges. Many trainers and pokemon are dealing with the trauma of the injustices. The Pok¨¦mon Centers across Sinnoh are offering free counseling and support services to help trainers and their Pok¨¦mon cope with their experiences. Community volunteers are also stepping up to assist in rebuilding efforts, focusing on restoring the areas affected by the battles and reinforcing the security of important sites.

    Furthermore, law enforcement agencies are collaborating with regional Pok¨¦mon Rangers to ensure all remnants of Team Galactic¡¯s operations are dismantled. This includes dismantling any remaining secret bases and securing captured Galactic members to prevent any resurgence of their criminal activities. The focus is on ensuring that peace and order are not only restored but also maintained in the long term. As Sinnoh works through these challenges, the resilience and unity of its communities shine brightly, inspired by Cynthia¡¯s courage and dedication to protecting their world.

    Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops. For now, Sinnoh can rest easy, knowing its champion is always ready to defend it from any threat.¡±

    The news program cut to a commercial break about some new pokeball breakthrough from Paldea, a region Ethan wasn¡¯t familiar with¡ªother than having heard its name before.

    ¡°Okay. Let me make some breakfast for everyone, then we can start our day in earnest. Why don¡¯t you guys go outside and have some fun while I cook? Go out and pick out some berries you want in your food?¡± Ethan walked into the kitchen to prepare cooking as the small horde of pokemon in his living room scrambled outside to pick out their favorite berries. Ethan was glad he chose to plant all those trees so long ago, they were an easy way to connect and motivate pokemon.

    As the pokemon left his home, Ethan quickly sent Cynthia and Looker texts asking about what had happened and if everyone was alright. While it was true he didn¡¯t want to be involved with saving the world, he was the person to give them their information. He did have some lingering responsibility nagging at him.

    After sending the messages, Ethan was just about to start cooking when a loud, angry, and all too familiar roar erupted from out past his berry fields. His heart dropped along with the pots and pans in his hands as he sprinted outside toward the roaring bear, assuming the worst. He had trainers camping about, and while he wished that they weren¡¯t complete and utter idiots willing to disregard his warnings to catch a cute Teddiursa, he couldn¡¯t be a hundred percent sure.

    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    ¡°URSARING!!!¡±

    Ethan sprinted through the field of berry trees, just barely catching the sight of Chatot flying up high. He put two fingers into his mouth and whistled loudly, catching her attention as she quickly dive bombed and landed roughly on his shoulder.

    ¡°Cha-tot! Cha-cha!¡± Chatot didn¡¯t sing, but chattered out her name. That wasn¡¯t a good sign.

    After a solid minute of sprinting, an utterly winded Ethan exited the far end of his berry field to catch the sight of an angry mama Ursaring, two growling and actually ferocious looking Teddiursa, and the remains of a completely shattered pokeball. The shattered pokeball was on the ground in pieces in between Ursaring and all the camping trainers with their pokemon out and ready.

    It wasn¡¯t hard to put two and two together. One of his worst fears had come to pass¡­ on the very first group of trainers he¡¯d welcomed to stay on his ranch. ¡°Who was it?!¡± Ethan yelled out, absolutely livid, the bitter feeling of betrayal etched into his heart.

    He stomped forward, passing by Ursaring and the two Teddiura by a few feet as he bee-lined for the group of pokemon and trainers. ¡°Who was it?!¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s an Ursaring right there! What are you doing?!¡± Joji yelled out frantically, eyes flickering between both Ethan and Ursaring.

    ¡°I am well aware of what pokemon are right there! We¡¯re all in her territory! Now, I will not ask again. Who was it?!¡± Ethan punted the remains of the shattered pokeball toward the group of trainers in his anger.

    Every single guest of his ranch refused to break eye contact with Ursaring, as they barked and bickered at each other. He could hear a few of them hurriedly giving their alibis, but the situation was quickly dissolving into a riot. Nobody was coming forward to accept the blame. If they wanted to play this game, then he wouldn''t play along. ¡°Okay then. All of you, leave. You¡¯re all banned from my ranch and I will not protect you from Ursaring should she choose to wipe you from the face of the earth. You¡¯re lucky she hasn¡¯t already.¡±

    Ethan turned to Ursaring to begin his apology, but Joji yelled out in shock. ¡°What!? I didn¡¯t do anything!¡±

    With a quick turn and a glare, Ethan screamed. ¡°THEN YOU BETTER TELL ME WHO DID!!!¡±

    He stormed forward, angrier than he¡¯d ever been. ¡°Did you think I was joking when I said there would be no catching pokemon on my ranch? Poaching!? Did you think I made that rule with a five million dollar fine because I wanted money? I made it so that none of you would die to an angry Ursaring should her children be in danger! You absolute idiots!¡±

    He huffed for breath before stomping on the remains of the pokeball. ¡°Go away. I¡¯ll deal with your mess. Start packing your stuff. You¡¯re all gone unless I find out who the culprit is.¡±

    Without another word, Ethan stormed back to Ursaring and whispered to Chatot. ¡°Go find Pachirisu and Shuckle. Have them keep an eye on the trainers. I want you to listen in on what they¡¯re saying. Figure out who threw the pokeball, alright?¡±

    ¡°Cha-tot!¡±

    Chatot fluttered off to find the other members of their family as Ethan approached Ursaring and the two Teddiursa. ¡°Firstly, I¡¯m so very sorry that coming here put you and your children at risk. Secondly, I am glad you didn¡¯t obliterate them for their transgressions. If they managed to capture one of your children, I would hunt them down and force them to release them back to you. I¡¯m going to be calling the rangers here after our conversation to deal with whoever threw the pokeball¡­ Speaking of which, do you know who did it?¡±

    Ursaring rapidly heaved in air, still very upset and angry about one of her children being potentially stolen from her, but she had enough reason left to shake her head. However, one of the Teddiursa nodded rapidly and pointed at the group of slowly retreating trainers as it growled its name in what would normally be a display of cuteness, but this time, it was accusing.

    As Ethan couldn¡¯t tell which person Teddiursa was pointing at, he started to list them off. ¡°The one with the Noctowl?¡±

    A shake of the head.

    ¡°The three with the colorful monkeys?¡±

    Another shake.

    ¡°The girl with the small Mawile?¡±

    And finally, he received a growl and a nod. Ursaring¡¯s eyes narrowed as she found the target of her ire. Ethan swore as she stomped forward, knocking him aside as her now bloodshot eyes locked onto her foe.

    ¡°Wait! Wait!¡± Ethan tried his best to stand in front of Ursaring to calm her down, not wanting a death to occur, but when he stood before an eight foot tall, utterly pissed mama bear? He was effectively a pebble who stood in her way.

    ¡°Let me deal with this! I promise you she¡¯ll be punished! Injury isn¡¯t the only way to hurt someone. The rangers are going to be pissed if you go berserk, please!¡± Ethan pleaded.

    Ursaring didn¡¯t register a single word he said. She stomped off as she heaved in lungs of air, opening her mouth wide as a surge of white light began charging and pulsing. Ethan¡¯s hair stood on end as goosebumps rippled throughout his body.

    ¡°Teddi!¡±

    ¡°Ted-ted!¡±

    Ursaring snapped her jaws closed, canceling the Hyper Beam which would have obliterated not just Joanna, the trainer with the Mawile, but his campgrounds, everyone and anything near it, and the forest beyond. She looked over her heaving shoulder toward her cubs with conflicting emotions. On one hand, she wanted to annihilate the one who tried to capture her children. On the other hand, her children were pleading with her to stop.

    Ethan, seeing his chance, spoke up with a shaky voice, still off put by the sheer power of the charging Hyper Beam. ¡°I¡¯ll deal with this. If anyone else comes to cause trouble, you can blast¡¯em.¡±

    Ursaring side-eyed Joanna with hatred before she turned and scooped up both of her cubs into her arms. Ethan had an idea¡ªhopefully a good one. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go and rest by my house? One of the Oddish evolved into a Gloom. Maybe their pleasant odor will help you calm down?¡±

    Without a word, grunt, or any indication that he¡¯d been heard, Ursaring walked off through his berry field with her children, angerly snapping off branches of nearby trees as she shoved her way past.

    Once they were out of sight, Ethan collapsed onto his butt and clenched his long hair in his hands. How could this have happened? It was the first time¡­ It took less than two days of being open for business before it was all nearly taken away from him. Going from one good day filled with playing pokemon, evolutions, and joy¡­ to this disaster of a morning¡­

    After calming himself down, Ethan grabbed his phone and dialed the second number on his speed-dial¡ªThe Rangers. The first number was the police.

    ¡°Hello. Eterna Forest Ranger Station B6.¡±

    Ethan coughed to clear his throat. ¡°Hello. My name¡¯s Ethan Reed, I have a tutoring and breeding ranch here in the forest¡­ Someone just tried to capture an Ursaring¡¯s cub¡­¡±

 Chapter 29

    It took less than ten minutes before some familiar birds landed down on his ranch, each carrying a Pokemon Ranger. The familiar Honchkrow and Staraptor from the two rangers who had come to rescue him previously, called in by Elise for backup, and a large reflective bird made out of solid steel¡ªA Skarmory.

    During the ten minutes they¡¯d taken to arrive, Ethan had walked over to the group of Oddish and the singular Gloom to check in on Teddiursa and Ursaring. Much to his relief, and probably the relief of all the residents of the surrounding forest, Gloom¡¯s strong perfume-like odor did as was described in his PocketDex. The calming odor worked wonders for Ursaring, who had calmed down and was no longer threatening to obliterate anyone in between her and Joanna. Her two cubs were hiding behind her, meek and afraid. Gone were the two wrestling fluff balls of fun.

    The ranger who had flown in on the Skarmory was, in fact, Ranger Elise. She shifted her eyes between Ursaring and Ethan, who sat by her side and gently patted the moody mom¡¯s arm reassuringly.

    With a final pat and a murmur of making everything right, Ethan stood and approached the Pokemon Ranger who dared not step any closer. ¡°So¡­¡±

    Elise gave him a blank stare. ¡°So, who¡¯s getting arrested?¡±

    Ethan thinned his lips and gestured for her to follow along as Pachirisu scampered over from where he hid beneath the Oddish and climbed up his back to get on his shoulder.

    ¡°Pachi-Pach!¡± The electric rodent nodded with as much confidence as he could muster, and wrapped his fluffy tail around Ethan¡¯s neck protectively.

    Elise slid her gaze between the two of them, then looked towards Ethan¡¯s waist where his three pokeballs, and Smeargle¡¯s great ball, were clipped to his belt. ¡°I see you¡¯ve gotten yourself some friends.¡±

    More than willing to lean into the small talk to get his mind away from his anger at someone trying to poach on his land, Ethan patted his pokeballs. ¡°The great ball isn¡¯t mine. It¡¯s for a pokemon staying at my ranch. They decided to part ways, amicably. The other three are my friends, yes. We have Pachirisu.¡±

    ¡°Pachi!¡± Pachirisu squealed with a hand held high, waving it around as if saying ¡®Me!¡¯

    ¡°Chatot, who¡¯s flying around somewhere or sneakily eating berries before lunch, and this little guy right over here.¡± Ethan finished with a smile as they strolled past Shuckle and Dunsparce who were chilling out near the entrance of Shuckle¡¯s homey hole.

    Shuckle noticed them walking by and gave a shy smile and a little flail of his limbs in a wave, which Ethan returned. He was glad Shuckle forgave him for asking for his help with tutoring. He¡¯d like for his berry collector to be more engaged with the ranch, but he wouldn¡¯t force the issue.

    Elise gave Shuckle a small nod, which caused Shuckle to nervously bend his wiggly neck to look behind him to see if her nod was directed toward someone else or if it was toward him.

    After they passed by his berry pal, Ethan thought it only proper to ask about her own pokemon. ¡°What about you? I know of Umbreon and Skarmory, but who else do you have along with you?¡±

    Elise looked fondly at her belt and ran her hands along her pokeballs. ¡°Umbreon, Skarmory, Wigglytuff, Rapidash, Slowbro, and¡­ we¡¯ll leave the last one with me as a surprise. Only one pokemon is not with me here. Wooper is back home.¡±

    He smiled at her affectionate tone. ¡°Woopers are very cute. I always liked them. You have a very impressive team there. How far did you go on your journey? If you don¡¯t mind me asking.¡±

    With a haughty, mocking snort, Elise patted her pokeballs before replying. ¡°All eight, thank you very much. Wouldn¡¯t be a ranger otherwise. Got knocked out round one of the conference, though. Went up versus a flying type specialist.¡±

    Ethan nodded along, pretending that made sense even though he had no clue how that mattered. ¡°You¡¯re looking like a non-evolution specialist, if that¡¯s even a thing.¡± Elise stated with a raised eyebrow.

    With a blink of confusion, it took him a second to realize that, yes, none of his pokemon could evolve. While, of course, that wasn¡¯t planned, it was pretty curious. ¡°With all the pokemon wandering about my ranch, I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll see more evolutions than most people. One of the Oddish evolved yesterday!¡± He gushed. ¡°It was the first time I¡¯d seen an evolution in person, it was amazing. Last night, in celebration, they went out into the meadow back by my house and did a some kinda dancing ritual. The Gloom shot out a bunch of seeds and all the Oddish planted them in the ground. You should have seen it.¡±

    Elise slowed in her walk, causing Ethan to get ahead. He peered back at her dumbfounded and flabbergasted face. Ethan¡¯s joy about talking about the scene faded as Elise took a heaving breath and rubbed her face with her hands in frustration.

    ¡°Uhh¡­¡± He started, but Elise spoke over him.

    ¡°Ethan. How many seeds?¡± She asked.

    Ethan thought about it, but it was pretty dark. He could only guess at the approximate number. ¡°Maybe fifty¡­? It was dark.¡±

    ¡°Oh, Arceus¡­¡± Elise muttered as she walked up to where he¡¯d paused on the cobblestone path. ¡°You¡¯re a breeder, right?¡±

    This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

    He nodded dumbly, a pit forming in his stomach. Elise patted him on the shoulder with pity. ¡°Enjoy raising fifty baby Oddish in a few weeks.¡±

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s it? That¡¯s not too bad.¡± Ethan¡¯s shoulders relaxed as the feared ruinous information was just the information that he¡¯d be getting a few more Oddish. ¡°But, and I know I¡¯m the breeder here¡­ Were the seeds eggs? I thought all pokemon laid eggs?¡±

    Elise gave him a raised brow and a dubious look. What she was about to say was apparently common knowledge¡­ Knowledge he didn¡¯t have. ¡°While pokemon can lay eggs, it¡¯s normally only done when they don¡¯t feel safe. Or if it is a caught pokemon, when it¡¯s requested by their trainer. These Oddish must feel safe here if they choose this route. For one, it¡¯s much faster than making eggs one at a time, and two, they¡¯ll all ¡®hatch¡¯ around the same time. Safety in numbers, and all of that.¡±

    She started walking again, leading the way. ¡°You didn¡¯t know that?¡±

    ¡°No. I didn¡¯t know that¡­ OH JESUS! I recited a poem for the ritual! Does that make me one of their parents?!¡± Ethan began to worry. He hoped that the Oddish realized he wasn¡¯t one of them¡­ he¡¯d never tested their intelligence.

    Elise¡¯s laughter brought him out of his worries. ¡°Not ready to be a dad?¡± She mocked.

    Ethan was about to retort, but they just passed the training field and arrived at the campground. Elise noticed his gaze and her whole demeanor shifted. Now she was serious. Joji stood beside his tent, pacing back and forth. Chili, Cress, and Cilan sat around the firepit, their elemental monkeys playing slightly behind them, completely oblivious to the tense atmosphere.

    And Joanna¡­ She sat on her crumpled tent, hands on her head as she sat defeated. Her sun kissed skin covered in dirt, and hair a mess. She knew what was coming. It was unthinkable that she wouldn¡¯t be found out.

    Elise didn¡¯t need Ethan to point her out at this point. She could see it with her own eyes. Her face was just a mask of defeat¡ªknowing you¡¯ve been caught. Elise spoke into the walkie-talkie connected at her shoulder, and when she finished, she walked forward. ¡°Joanna Miller, I¡¯m Pokemon Ranger Elise. I¡¯d like to ask you a few questions.¡±

    ¡ª--------------

    About twenty minutes passed before Joanna was in handcuffs. Apparently, and not to much surprise, the Pokemon Rangers could, and would, make arrests. Elise and her two fellow rangers took statements from everyone, including him. With all the evidence pretty cut and clean, it was more of a formality.

    Joanna had her pokeballs confiscated for the time being, and she was just now hopping aboard a large Talonflame, one of the rangers released.

    Talonflame was a beautiful pokemon, and much larger than he¡¯d expected it to be. The large fire-bird¡¯s plumage was immaculate, and its keen hawk-like yellow eyes were in sharp contrast to the bright orange, black, and faint yellow coating the rest of the majestic creature.

    Once the two other rangers took Joanna off into the air, Elise walked over with her hands on her hips. ¡°While I know that this was technically poaching, and she will be held accountable, she will not be liable for the five-million fine. A spoken agreement is more of an honor deal, not one locked into law. I¡¯d recommend making paper or digital contracts in the future.¡±

    He hadn¡¯t lied when he said the fine was more for their protection than a way for him to make money, so he wasn¡¯t the least put off at the information. ¡°I understand¡­ Thank you very much for coming and helping with this.¡±

    With a quick nod of the brim from her ranger beret, she tossed out a pokeball, releasing Skarmory. The steel-clad pokemon looked bored, but its razor sharp feathers made the sound of a knife being sharpened as it bristled, showcasing its fearsome power. Elise deftly climbed aboard her flying pokemon with a swinging hop and swiftly took off toward¡­ wherever she was stationed.

    Ethan sighed and readied himself to turn around to face the fidgeting trainers behind him. After a few seconds of gathering himself, he twisted around and looked balefully at them all. ¡°That is what will happen if any of you choose to follow in her foolish footsteps. While this day has been a terrible one so far, I will still tutor your pokemon later on. First, I need to deal with Ursaring and her two children. Do not come near while I am talking with her. I really hope I don¡¯t need to explain my reasoning for that.¡±

    Ethan walked back toward the Oddish¡¯s resting spot, finding Ursaring gently cradling her two cubs. Once she heard his footsteps, her head swiveled. Ethan froze for a second, locked into place by her fierce, blood chilling eyes. Once she registered who it was, all hostility faded. She went back to consoling her cubs.

    Ethan walked forward and sat down beside her. ¡°She¡¯s gone now. She won¡¯t come back. I¡¯m sorry this happened¡­¡±

    He didn¡¯t get any kind of response from Ursaring, but she was listening. ¡°Did you know that it¡¯s common knowledge not to come between an Ursaring and her Teddiursa?¡±

    She let out a mocking huff of air as if what he said was obvious. ¡°Teddiursa is one of the most adorable pokemon. That alone makes them prized partners for many trainers, but another reason is that once they evolve, they¡¯re powerhouses for a pokemon battler¡­¡±

    Ethan whipped out his phone and quickly looked up information on Ursaring as a species. He wasn¡¯t a hundred percent sure, but he did vaguely recall them being able to evolve in some of the later games¡ªthe ones he never played. He quickly found a page full of information, mostly regarding wild Ursaring and to under no circumstances get close to them or their cubs. But, he did find what he was looking for.

    He flipped his phone around, angling the screen toward the interested Ursaring. ¡°Look at this. You can evolve again.¡±

    That caught her attention, but only by a bit. She peeked over, inspecting the image of an Ursaluna in a gym battle.

    ¡°It requires an item, but I can probably get it for you. I don¡¯t know of any other way to apologize¡­¡± Ethan lowered his phone sullenly. He felt horrible about the whole situation. It took her first visit for the worse case scenario to happen.

    Ursaring met his eyes with a calculating gaze. Ethan did his best to meet them, but he felt awful about everything that occurred, even though it wasn''t all his responsibility. Joanna was the true culprit, but he enabled the actions. Willingly or not.

    Her gaze slid down to his belt, and her eyes rested on his partner''s pokeballs. She raised a claw, then gently poked one of them, then her cubs.

    Ethan sadly shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t have any more pokeballs with me. Even if I did, I wouldn¡¯t want to tear your family apart. If I caught them, I would have to register them to me. They would be mine¡­¡±

    A lightbulb went off in Ethan¡¯s head and a sly smile grew on his upturned lips. ¡°But¡­ What if I caught them, registered them, then sent them off with you? Nobody else could catch them with a pokeball, because they¡¯d be ¡®mine¡¯¡± Ethan air quoted, something Ursaring had no concept of, given her stare. ¡°What do you think? I¡¯d have to take them to Eterna City to be registered. So, you¡¯d be separated for about a week if I walked¡­¡±

    Usraring looked at her cubs, Ethan¡¯s pokeballs, and Ethan¡¯s eyes. Then, with a slow nod, she agreed. Ethan gave her a nod of confidence as he stood and felt around for his wallet. ¡°I may not have a pokeball, but I know of some people who probably do.¡±

 Chapter 30

    At the campground, where all the trainers staying at his ranch were still getting their moods back to normal after the morning catastrophe, Ethan hurried up to Joji, wallet in hand. ¡°Joji!¡± He yelled and waved down the Noctowl trainer, who jerked at the exclamation of his name.

    ¡°I have a favor to ask. I¡¯m fresh out of pokeballs, and I need three of them. I¡¯ll give you fifty thousand cash if you can part with them.¡±

    Joji¡¯s shocked and slightly worried expression faded to one of surprise. ¡°I mean, I guess? I think Eterna is only twenty or thirty minutes by flight¡­¡±

    With his raised brow, Ethan¡¯s look must have spurred Joji to continue. ¡°I don¡¯t have any spare pokeballs on me, but I could fly Noctowl to Eterna for you?¡±

    With a sigh of relief, Ethan nodded. ¡°It would help a ton. Ursaring wants me to capture her Teddiursa so they can¡¯t be caught by others. It¡¯s pretty important, as you might guess given this morning¡¯s fiasco.¡±

    With a flick of his wrist, Joji tossed out a pokeball, releasing Noctowl. The giant avian ruffled its feathers and shot an angry glare toward its trainer, upset at being awoken mid-day. ¡°Quick trip into the city, Noctowl. Then, you can rest until we start tutoring again.¡±

    Feeling a little bad for Noctowl, Ethan decided that perhaps he should work around its sleeping schedule. He was tutoring Growlithe at night anyhow. It wouldn¡¯t be too much of a hassle to work with Noctowl at the same time. Ethan spoke to Noctowl, not its trainer, in an attempt to smooth over their fraying relationship. ¡°How about we start your tutoring at night? I¡¯m teaching Growlithe during that time. It wouldn¡¯t be too much trouble. Think of it as a thanks for making this trip for me.¡±

    Noctowl¡¯s glare faded as a twinkle formed in its sharp gaze. It rapidly began patting its side and nodding its head to get Joji to hop on as soon as possible. It wanted to go back to sleep, and Ethan¡¯s offer was all the motivation it needed.

    Ethan quickly handed Joji the fifty-thousand pokedollars he had on him to not keep the bird waiting. As Joji turned to leave, he asked for another, smaller favor. ¡°If you stop by the pokemon center, can you ask for Joyce Joy? Tell her I have some pokemon that need to be registered soon and tell her I¡¯d love it if she stopped by. I know I¡¯m asking a lot¡­ and I¡¯m sorry for being a bother¡­¡±

    Joji waved off his complaints as he stuffed the cash into one of his pockets. ¡°It¡¯s no problem. I needed to do some light shopping anyway and now that you¡¯re going to tutor Noctowl at night, I have the time. So, three pokeballs and the message?¡±

    Ethan nodded as Joji hopped up on Noctowl, the eager bird stomping its feet in impatience. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll be back in an hour or two.¡±

    Ethan stepped back as Noctowl flapped its enormous wings, sending dirt and leaves spiraling into the air from the rushing wind. They soared off into the sky, and for a moment, he wondered if they were using the move Fly or not. He didn¡¯t think that they needed the move here, but it should exist¡­ right?

    Scenes of a flying Smeargle, soaring through the open air, riding its tail like a witch¡¯s broomstick flashed into Ethan¡¯s mind. He¡¯d have to do some research and some testing to see if that was a possibility in the future. He¡¯d need photos.

    ¡ª----------------

    After setting up the pokemon for tutoring once again and getting them on their strict and very well thought out training regimens¡­ Ethan was helping the sorrowful Gogoat who was still struggling with using the ground type move. Gogoat idly kicked the ground while wearing a small frown, dejected at its lack of improvement.

    ¡°Okay Gogoat, I have an idea. Do you know what a plow is? One used for farming?¡± Ethan asked with a gentle reassuring smile.

    Gogoat bleeted and shook his head. ¡°Goooo.¡±

    ¡°Hmm. Well, a plow is used to create grooves in the earth so that farmers can plant seeds within the grooves. They then place the dirt that was shoved off to the sides overtop the seeds for planting. Look at this.¡± Ethan jammed his toe into the dirt, and with some force, drug his foot a foot, leaving a small divot.

    Gogoat watched it happen, a spark of understanding flashing through its eyes. Ethan didn¡¯t need to say anything else, as Gogoat understood what he was trying to show him. Without any hesitation, Gogoat turned and sprinted off down the open stretch of grass alongside the cobbled path. As Gogoat picked up momentum, he bleated and hunkered down during his sprint. As he continued to barrel ahead, the grass beneath its feet started to vibrate and shake, almost like the ground was the surface of water, and Gogoat disrupted the surface tension.

    After Gogoat looped back around, he was heaving for air, but he had an enormous smile. Ethan clapped in celebration as he walked forward and ran a hand down the large pokemon¡¯s flank. ¡°That¡¯s it! That was close! Now that you got the basics down, you¡¯ll be using Bulldoze in no time.¡±

    ¡°Gooooo-goat!¡±

    Gogoat did a happy jump while flailing about, reminding Ethan of a happy cow, causing him to laugh. ¡°Keep on practicing. I gotta go help some of the others.¡±

    As Ethan gave Gogoat a final pat and turned to head back toward the other Pokemon, he spotted Ursaring and the two Teddiursa off near his berry fields. The two Teddiursa were play-fighting over some of the fallen berries, letting loose cute growls, but Ursaring was observing Ethan as he tutored. She stood with her arms crossed and gazed about the training field, where Gogoat, Chatot, Sneasel, and the three Simis worked on their moves.

    Ethan gave her a small wave, which mama bear returned with a nod. While Ethan didn¡¯t mind her watching, the other trainers and some of the pokemon did. The three siblings and their colorful monkeys were fidgeting in place, and when Ursaring noticed, she grinned savagely, taunting them. Ethan walked over toward the small Oran berry pile Sneasel and Chatot were using, picked one up, and threw it at her head. She snatched it out of the air in a singular chomp, chewed it, then kept on grinning. ¡°Stop that! They¡¯re trying to learn here.¡± Ethan said, mock angry.

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    Ursaring huffed and plopped herself onto the ground and went back to watching the ongoing training passively. Ethan walked over to the monkeys and their trainers. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about her. She won¡¯t harm you¡­ as long as you don¡¯t throw a pokeball at her children.¡± Ethan said, frowning at the last part. This morning was going to bother him for a long time.

    After another ten minutes of helping out the Simis, a loud squawk from Chatot drew his attention. Ethan just barely managed to catch the finish of a textbook Sucker Punch smacking her in the chest, causing him to jog over in concern as Sneasel smiled appreciatively at its fist, holding it up in the air. ¡°You okay?¡±

    Chatot flapped her wings in frustration, but nodded. She was watching Sneasel do a little celebration with apathy. Ethan, feeling that his first pokemon wasn¡¯t in the best of moods, lifted her up and cradled her in his arms. He whispered to her as he rested his chin on her head. ¡°Remember. You don¡¯t need to learn the move in a certain amount of time. You don¡¯t even need to learn the move at all. I just thought you¡¯d enjoy it. Don¡¯t think I haven''t seen the flickering of dark around your beak now and then. You¡¯ll get it in a few days¡­¡± Ethan paused as Chatot did her weird avian purr. ¡°Next time, try to knock the berry out of Sneasel¡¯s hand instead of stealing it. It¡¯s a dark move called Knock Off. It might be easier.¡±

    Chatot wiggled in his grasp, wanting to be let down, so he placed her back on the ground as she pecked at some of her ruffled feathers. She lowered herself to the ground and sang out her name in a mocking tone.

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot-tooot-tooot! ?¡±

    Sneasel stilled in its little celebration, then twisted its neck to look over its shoulder with a glare. Realizing that the time for celebration was over, it leaned down and grasped another Oran. It squared off against Chatot and nonchalantly tossed the berry up and down in its hand.

    With one powerful flap of her wings, Chatot jetted forward. Instead of trying to peck the berry into her mouth to take it away, she smacked Sneasel¡¯s hand with one of her dark coated wings in a powerful blow. The berry, unable to withstand the force of the successful use of Knock Off, simply pulverized in Sneasel¡¯s grip. They both paused and looked down at the blue juice which splattered all across their bodies.

    ¡°Chat-toooot¡­¡±

    ¡°Snease¡­¡±

    ¡°Well.¡± Ethan said as he walked forward. ¡°I guess berries won¡¯t cut it anymore. Good news, you actually used the move Knock Off on the first try! Now, we gotta try again to see if it was a fluke. Let¡¯s take a 30 minute break while you all clean yourselves up.¡±

    Chatot, normally uncaring of being covered in juice, fluttered off toward his house to take a bird bath in his requisitioned stone-bowl. Sneasel on the other hand, just grabbed a bunch of dirt from the field and slathered it on itself. Apparently, using literal dirt to clean itself from the juice.

    Ethan was about to comment on the hygiene, but a screech from an overhead Noctowl declared the arrival of Joji. The huge bird swooped down, using its massive flapping wings to apply a counterforce on the ground, and gently landed. Joji hopped off and smoothed down his clothes, unbothered by the impressive landing.

    Once finished, he strode toward Ethan and tossed him five pokeballs. Ethan scrambled to catch them, and fumbled them in surprise, causing one of them to fall to the floor. Joji winced and gave him a small bow. ¡°Sorry. It¡¯s a habit. You gave me fifty-thousand, so I just got you five. Can never have too many pokeballs.¡±

    Ethan picked up the dropped ball and wiped it clean. ¡°Thanks. I was paying you with that other twenty, you know?¡±

    Joji shrugged. ¡°I was planning to head to the city for some supplies anyways. By the way, Nurse Joy said she¡¯d love to stop by sooner or later. She was very insistent to meet your pokemon. She looked eager.¡±

    ¡°Thanks Joji.¡± Ethan said as he spotted Ursaring pushing herself off the ground to stand up straight.

    Ethan made his way over to her, watching as her stalwart appearance began to give way to unease. He couldn¡¯t blame her either. Letting him catch her children was probably the best degree of trust one could possibly imagine. It both made him warm inside, but also resolute. He would not renege on their little plan. Once he caught them, he¡¯d let them out and have them wander around with their mother. Although¡­ it¡¯s probably illegal.

    Good thing he has the ¡®I¡¯m not from your world.¡¯ card on hand. That¡¯ll be sure to get him out of trouble.

    The two Teddiursa cubs, who were still roughhousing and growling as ferociously as they could manage at one another, both began to calm down as they sensed the emotional turmoil from their mother. They both righted themselves off the ground, where they were in a small heap of fluff, then tilted their heads as they gaze upwards at the towering figure they¡¯ve known their whole entire lives. The one who¡¯d been there for them and protected them since they could think.

    With a meaty paw, Ursaring bent down and shoved her two cubs forward. She didn¡¯t even turn to look at where they were, she just knew.

    ¡°Ursa-Ursaring. Urs.¡± She spoke a few words to her children, then pointed at Ethan.

    The two cubs, who on any other day would have tackled him in a hug, looked at Ethan with looks of worry and confusion. He knelt down on the ground, took out two of the pokeballs he¡¯d just been given, then rolled them forward.

    ¡°All you have to do is touch the button. You¡¯ll go in, but don¡¯t fight it. As soon as you¡¯re snug and comfy, I¡¯ll let you right out to be with your mom.¡± Ethan said as the two cubs sniffed at the pokeballs. The speedier and more confident of the two tapped the button after giving Ethan a look of friendliness. With a bright muted red light, Teddiursa was sucked into the ball.

    Ding

    Ethan grabbed the ball, then released the small teddy bear right next to their mom. When he appeared, he blinked owlishly for a few seconds, then giggled¡ªseemingly having enjoyed whatever was in there.

    Seeing its sibling''s joy, and not wanting to be left out, the one who¡¯d dug him up a root went and tapped the paw with a playful smack, and in it went.

    Ding

    And like its sibling, Ethan released Teddiursa immediately. When this one appeared, it looked at its sibling and giggled along.

    Then, they both went back to fighting.

    ¡°Teddi!¡±

    ¡°Ted-ted!¡±

    They rolled across the first and smacked each other with reckless abandon, but not enough to do any serious harm.

    Ethan rose, then placed his hands on his hips. ¡°As promised. They won¡¯t be able to be caught now. I hope that makes you feel safer to come back. Once again, I¡¯m sorry about what happened.¡±

    ¡°Urs.¡± Ursaring nodded her acknowledgement as she looked at Ethan¡¯s pocket. Her gaze lingered for a second at where the pokeballs were before she huffed and called her children to leave.

    As she turned to walk away, he made sure to remind her of the specifics of their deal. ¡°Remember. I¡¯ll need to take them to a human city to get registered to me sooner rather than later. They¡¯ll be gone for a few days.¡±

    Tired and fed up with the day, Ursaring waved him away as she continued onwards.

    Ethan sighed, then clicked the two Teddi¡¯s pokeballs on his belt, completing a set of six.

 Chapter 31

    Ethan continued to oversee the training of the pokemon for another few hours. He¡¯d occasionally give some words of advice, which were probably completely wrong, but his words did appear to help¡­ sometimes.

    Gogoat was a shining example. The previously floundering goat was now well on its way toward mastering the move Bulldoze. Currently, the leafy goat was doing laps around his ranch, kicking up dirt and debris as its cloven hooves cause the ground around to shake and quake.

    After spending the last two days in the thick of it, fully teaching pokemon for hours and hours, he¡¯d come to appreciate the absurd energy reserves and powers pokemon had at their disposal. Gogoat ran laps around his roughly mile wide ranch and didn¡¯t even appear the least bit winded. Every few laps, Ethan would catch the sight of Blitzle following after.

    Another impressive pokemon was Hitmonlee. It was another powerhouse, When it came to stamina, he was up there along with Gogoat for number one. The martial artist was sweating, that much was sure, but its fluid kicks and precise form, which gave way to perfect leg sweeps, only made the brown nugget eager to continue¡ªspurred on by its success. Hitmonlee was finished with his tutoring. There wasn¡¯t much else to teach.

    Sneasel could use Sucker Punch roughly eighty percent of the time now. The angsty dark type relishing the fact that he could sneakily and savagely pop a pokemon in the face. Ethan would be surprised if Sneasel didn¡¯t have the move down and completed by the end of the day.

    Chatot, after swapping from Thief to Knock Off, was coming along nicely in her training. Ethan estimated in another day or two, his singing companion would have the move added into her arsenal.

    In preparation for their completion of their moves, Ethan stepped off to the side to make some calls. Calling their trainers earlier with a heads up was just a courtesy, but these trainers didn¡¯t stay at his ranch and start up trouble. They earned the calls.

    Right when Ethan whipped out its phone and went to dial some of their numbers, his phone rang. Seeing that it was Cynthia, Ethan answered immediately. He wasn¡¯t sure if this was a call regarding the news this morning, or that she somehow heard about what had happened on his ranch. Either way, it was sure to be an interesting call.

    Because if she didn¡¯t know about the Ursaring who was about to run rampant because of poaching, she was going to hear it first hand.

    Ethan accepted the call, and tilted his head to talk with his hands free. He went off toward his Oran trees and started to restock Chatot¡¯s and Sneasel¡¯s dwindling pile. ¡°Hello?¡±

    ¡°Ethan, on behalf of the Sinnoh Pokemon League, thank you for your foreknowledge. I never expected to have such heinous criminals in the region. It was worse than I had previously imagined, and without your information, Team Galactic could have done an untold amount of damage to both our reputation, and pokemon around the world.¡±

    Ethan coughed as he stop picking berries, he properly held the phone up to his ear as he awkwardly stood there wondering what to say. ¡°You¡¯re welcome?¡±

    He could hear her laugh from the other side of the phone. ¡°That was a little too formal, but I meant what I said. They¡­ nevermind. It¡¯s the past now. I called for two reasons. One, I wanted to thank you, and two, I was calling to ask whether you¡¯d be willing to foster some of the pokemon we¡¯ve recovered from their facilities.¡±

    Ethan frowned as Cynthia carried on. ¡°We¡¯re currently reconnecting pokemon with their trainers¡­ but some of them didn¡¯t make it or are unreachable. We¡¯re not just contacting you, but many other pokemon ranches, farms, or daycares. There¡¯d be paperwork and other ribbons to cut through, and I know you just started, but I think I have a pretty good judge of your character.¡±

    Thinking about the troubled pokemon was already enough to get him on board, but with how hectic his ranch was becoming, he needed to be sure he could properly take care of them. He was already being pulled around in many separate directions. He needed a schedule, plan, and solid foundations to keep everything he had going for him running smoothly.

    ¡°I¡¯d be happy to look after some of them, but my ranch isn¡¯t enormous, nor does it have biomes fit for all pokemon. With tutoring, the incoming fifty or so Oddish babies I¡¯m going to get soon, trainer troubles, not knowing what the hell I¡¯m doing, and poor organization¡­ I¡¯m worried whether I¡¯ll do a good job. I don¡¯t want already traumatized or lost pokemon to suffer because I can¡¯t get my shi¡ªeverything on my end together.¡±

    ¡°I understand. I hope you didn¡¯t mind my little advertising. I thought it¡¯d be a solid jumpstart to your career.¡±

    Ethan let loose an audible sigh as he took a seat on the ground, watching a few of the local Starly flutter off with some berries. ¡°Well, out of the twelve trainers that came by yesterday, one of them tried to evolve their baby Aipom, another wanted me to teach their Gabite Frustration, and this morning, a trainer attempted to poach a Teddiursa from the local Ursaring who came to visit. I had to call the rangers and have her arrested¡­¡±

    Unable to stop his rant, he continued. ¡°If I¡¯m being honest, your advertisement was a little too much trouble. I¡¯m starting to think a slow and steady approach would have been much better¡­ You do realize I¡¯m winging all of this, right? I¡¯m not a professional. I feel like a fraud.¡±

    ¡°Ethan. Calm down. You¡¯re not a fraud.¡±

    Ethan released another sigh as Cynthia carried on. ¡°You¡¯re not a fraud¡­ You¡¯re just new. Do you think I¡¯d go out of my way to talk about you if I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d do, or are doing, a good job? While it might have been a tad much, that much I can readily admit, I do think it¡¯s taught you a lot. If it helps, that Gabite trainer had his license revoked after some investigating. He¡¯d been abusing his pokemon¡­ What I¡¯m trying to say here, is that you¡¯re learning that those younger trainers are going out on their journey. They¡¯re still kids. I was that kid once upon a time, but you weren¡¯t. They¡¯re young, reckless, and think they can take on the world. This is where they learn consequences¡ªOne second.¡±

    Click

    Ethan checked his phone, seeing that the call had ended.

    ¡°As I was saying¡ª¡± The voice of Cynthia spoke from up and behind him. Spinning around, Ethan saw Champion Cynthia on top of a beautiful Togekiss, who hovered without effort above the berry trees with a crinkly eyed smile. Apparently, her Togekiss liked to sneak up on people.

    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    ¡°What the hell are you doing here?¡± Ethan hissed as he peeked through the singular line of trees toward his training grounds, where the pokemon and trainers participating in his tutoring looked on with awe at the hovering Champion.

    As Ethan ran a hand down his face, Cynthia smiled smugly. ¡°I¡¯m here to see your little operation. Doesn¡¯t look very fraudulent to me.¡±

    Togekiss let out a small crooning noise as it hovered lower to the ground, its large flapping wing/arms tucking in slightly to not get in the way of the nearby trees. Cynthia hopped off from where she stood on its back and gave a silent ¡®thanks¡¯ to her pokemon as she returned it into its Ultra Ball.

    Cynthia picked one of the nearby toy-top-like Figy berries and plopped it in her mouth. ¡°You do realize you have a hefty fortune in berries on your property, right? You should look into training your pokemon to defend your berries.¡±

    Ethan gave her a deadpan look. ¡°They literally grow on trees, and I have too many to count. So, why are you really here? I doubt it was to check up on the random person who appeared out of thin air one day.¡±

    Cynthia picked a Leppa next, before she explained. ¡°Well, with Team Galactic ruined, we¡¯re in the process of cleanup, and you can¡¯t transfer eggs through the GTL.¡±

    Cynthia reached into the small bag on her hip and withdrew two melon-sized eggs. One of them had small pink stars and lines of silver across the shell. The other had arcs of yellow lightning streaking up and down the shell, and gentle wind currents.

    Ethan admired the first pokemon eggs he¡¯d ever seen, surprised that the outside shell was so colorful and detailed. As Cynthia had one egg in each hand, she raised the one with lightning marks. ¡°This one I personally picked out for you. I¡¯ll leave it as a surprise. The other¡ªWe don''t know for sure. I only brought these two, as I wasn''t aware of how big your ranch was. I should have brought some more.¡±

    Ethan blinked. ¡°Wait, they¡¯re for me?! I didn¡¯t even agree!¡±

    Cynthia walked forward and handed Ethan the eggs, which he cautiously grabbed as gently as he could. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d say no, and I was coming over to see what you were getting up to out here. Now, tell me about this Teddiursa poaching¡­¡±

    ¡ª--------------------------------------

    After Ethan regaled his morning woes about how he caught the Teddiursa and sent them off with Ursaring, and how the fine on Joanna didn¡¯t stick, Cynthia wore a frown and shook her head. ¡°You need proper organization and actual contracts if you want any of your fines or rules to be properly enforced. I daresay, the only reason this Joanna got in trouble was because there were eyewitnesses and Ursaring is watched by the rangers for this very reason. What do you need?¡±

    Ethan was nodding along, having learned his lesson about being unprepared and agreeing with what she had to say, but her ending comment threw him off. ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°I asked what you needed. Do you have a computer? Internet? A printer? A name for the ranch?¡± Cynthia raised a brow, confused at his confusion.

    ¡°I mean¡­ no?¡± Ethan winced at the champion¡¯s disapproval.

    ¡°I¡¯ll contact Looker to get you sorted out. I heard you asked Joyce to visit¡­ You know she¡¯s addicted to the internet right?¡± Cynthia asked, arms crossed.

    That threw him for a loop. ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°You know, you should expand your vocabulary. ¡®What¡¯ is a nice word, but you seem to use it all too often.¡± Cynthia checked her fancy pokegear watch, and tsk¡¯d. ¡°I¡¯ve got to go, I''ve been delaying my duties for too long. I¡¯ll be in touch, Ethan.¡±

    With a casual, well practiced ball toss, Cynthia released her Togekiss once again, who crooned softly as it apparated.

    ¡°Toooge¡±

    ¡°Shuck?¡±

    Togekiss did half a backflip, turning himself upside down. ¡°Toge?¡±

    Ethan¡¯s berry buddy dropped the Oran berry he had in his noodle limbs as he stared, mouth agape, at the flying white manta. Cynthia turned around, glancing down at his dear friend Shuckle. ¡°Well, hel¡ª¡±

    Annnnd Shuckle was in his shell, the blue coat of Withdraw flashing brightly. Ethan walked over to his berry buddy and picked him up to cradle in his arms. ¡°Do you want to go in your ball Shuckle?¡±

    ¡°Shuckle-Shuck!¡± Another blue coating of Withdraw, and Ethan understood what he wanted. He unclipped Shuckle¡¯s pokeball and withdrew him inside.

    ¡°Huh. I didn¡¯t expect to see a Shuckle around here, and I didn¡¯t know you had more pokemon. But, now that I look at your belt, you have quite a few now?¡± Cynthia checked her pokegear once more, then looked to the sky, weighing the consequences of her actions. ¡°Oh, well. I suppose I can stick around to meet your pokemon.¡±

    Ethan clipped Shuckle¡¯s ball onto his belt then began feeling self conscious. This was the champion. All of her pokemon were the best of the best when it came to battling. His were his friends and family, not battlers. He wasn¡¯t ashamed of his pokemon, not one bit, but there was a stark difference between her pokemon and his.

    ¡°They¡¯re all out of their balls¡ªwell, not Shuckle but you saw that. Give me a second.¡± Ethan cupped his hands around his mouth. ¡°Pachirisu! Chatot! Come over here for a second!¡±

    Ethan lowered his hands and stood there gazing around as Cynthia casually picked another Leppa. After around twenty seconds, Ethan spotted Chatot flying across the tops of the trees, searching for him. Ethan whistled, catching her attention, causing her to swerve and land on his left shoulder.

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot-tooot-tooot! ?¡±

    Chatot nuzzled the side of his head, making him smile as he stroked her head. ¡°This is Chatot. I think you two have met before?¡±

    Cynthia waved at Chatot, who sang another note. ¡°? Chaa-tooot! ?¡±

    ¡°Yes. We¡¯ve met.¡±

    ¡°PACHI!¡± Pachirisu announced his arrival as he ducked and dived between the thick brown tree trunks of his trees. Following Pachirisu was Smeargle, who held its orange-tipped tail as it walked over, curious about why Ethan shouted out his pokemons names.

    Pachirisu smirked at Chatot, who was chilling on Ethan¡¯s left shoulder, then climbed up Ethan¡¯s leg to take his rightful spot. Smeargle paused a few feet away, unsure if he was supposed to be here. Ethan waved him over with a smile, causing Smeargle to ease up and walk over to stand next to him. Ethan rubbed his beret as he looked toward Cynthia.

    ¡°This is Pachirisu, one of my very first friends. He¡¯s the first pokemon I ever taught any moves, and the one who helped me plant too many trees.¡± Ethan gestured to his shoulder, where Pachirisu rubbed his nose haughtily.

    Ethan turned, then patted Smeargle. ¡°This is Smeargle. Although I have his Great Ball, he is not actually mine. He¡¯s staying at the ranch until he finds out what he wants to do, or where he wants to go. He split up with his trainer three days ago. It was amicable.¡±

    Cynthia smiled at them both, then gave Ethan a discerning look. ¡°Impressive. While I¡¯m not an expert on any of these pokemon, I have a pretty good eye for power. Do you happen to know which of these pokemon is the strongest? In a battle, of course.¡±

    ¡°Well I thi¡ª¡±

    ¡°Pachi!¡± Pachirisu cut Ethan off and proudly patted Ethan¡¯s right shoulder.

    ¡°Togekiss-tooooge?¡± Togekiss, still upside down in the air, crooned questionably.

    ¡°Pachiri-pach-pach-pach!¡± Seemingly answering a question, Pachirisu nodded proudly.

    Togekiss righted himself by finishing its backflip as it let out a very familiar sound he remembered from the anime. ¡°Prrrriiiiiii!¡±

    Cynthia watched the pokemon converse, then nodded. ¡°Do you agree with Pachirisu?¡±

    Ethan shrugged, causing Pachirisu to look affronted and disgusted, like Ethan had gone and killed its whole family. He ignored the electric rodent for now. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. I¡¯ve never battled before. Pachirisu and Chatot battled once, but it wasn¡¯t super serious. I called the match very early on, just to make sure nobody got seriously hurt out here where the nearest pokemon center is three days away.¡±

    Ethan side eyes Pachirisu. ¡°While you were banned from using Super Fang, Chatot couldn¡¯t use Boomburst. I think if she used it at the start of the match and could safely use the move without harming herself, you¡¯d have serious trouble. Who knows, next time she might get my right shoulder.¡±

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot! ?¡± Chatot nodded along. She one-hundred percent agreed. Next time, the right shoulder would be hers.

    Cynthia checked her pokegear once again, then took it off her wrist and stuffed it in the small satchel she took the eggs out of. ¡°Well, then. I think it¡¯s time you had a battle for real. You even have a nice battlefield right over there.¡± She smirked. ¡°I¡¯ll be your first.¡±

    Ethan winced at the declaration, then sheepishly looked to the ground. ¡°Word that better next time.¡±

 Chapter 32

    ¡°You know, I think most people work very hard to earn the right to battle against you. I don¡¯t think we should battle at all.¡± Ethan began throwing out excuses. He wasn¡¯t a battler, and he didn¡¯t want to battle the Champion at all. It would be a battle for hurting his pokemon for no reason. They wouldn¡¯t win, nor did he need to prove himself to anyone.

    Cynthia nodded along, agreeing with him. ¡°While that¡¯s very true, I think you¡¯d prefer someone who you can trust not to injure your pokemon for your first battle. If you picked the wrong opponent, then they could maliciously do harm to your pokemon.¡±

    Ethan shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s where you¡¯re wrong. I¡¯m not looking to pick any opponents. I don¡¯t need to. Battling isn¡¯t something I want, need, or feel inclined to do.¡± He sighed as he locked eyes with Cynthia, who was judging him with a critical eye. ¡°Look¡­ I appreciate the opportunity, but I don¡¯t want to battle.¡±

    ¡°Ethan. Sometimes the battle comes to you. There will be times when you can¡¯t opt out.¡± She gestured all around her. ¡°What would you have done if Team Galactic came by and threatened to steal all the pokemon who call your ranch home? Would you roll over and let them do as they pleased? I do not think you would. You should battle to train for the moment you least expect. I am the Champion. A title I earned through battles alone. Take this as advice. Battle me.¡±

    Ethan stared into Cynthia¡¯s fierce gray eyes and gulped as the usually slight breeze suddenly picked up in intensity, blowing her long blonde hair about. She stood there, ready for anything. A defender of a region. What she said made sense, and it wasn¡¯t like he had zero interest in battling. It was mainly the fact that he didn¡¯t want his friends to get hurt out here in the middle of nowhere.

    Chatot shuffled along his shoulder and leaned forward with narrowed eyes as her tail clicked and clacked back and forth like a metronome. Pachirisu¡¯s cheeks surged and sparked with built up electricity¡­ and Cynthia smiled, turned, then walked off into the training field.

    Ethan looked to his two pokemon. While he didn¡¯t want to battle, they did. He¡¯d seen Chatot enjoy the little scuffles they had when they made their way here from Eterna City, and while they weren¡¯t the real deal, he could see that she wanted to at least try. Likewise, Pachirisu was ready to rumble. Whether it was because he wanted to cement his title of strongest on the team or not, Ethan didn¡¯t know¡­ but he knew they wanted this a lot more than he did.

    As they were alone for a second as Cynthia quickly cleared the field for the upcoming bout, he said a few words to his friends. They didn¡¯t know what they were getting themselves into. ¡°That woman is Champion Cynthia. She is bar none, the strongest pokemon trainer in this entire region. She is the top of the top, the pinnacle. She will take it easy on us, but know that if she were to try, you wouldn¡¯t stand a chance. I don¡¯t say this to disparage you, but to make sure you know what you¡¯re getting yourself into. Do your best, but stay safe. If you hear me say a command, follow it. Whether it be a move or to dodge. I may see things you can¡¯t. If you get recalled, it¡¯s because I care for your health and don¡¯t want to see you get hurt... are you two ready?¡±

    ¡°Pachi!¡± Pachirisu nodded, a confident look gleaming in his eyes.

    ¡°Chat-tot!¡± Chatot flapped her wings and sped up her tail.

    They were ready.

    With trepidation, Ethan made his way out into the now cleared field and walked to the opposite end of where Cynthia stood calmly with a hand on her hip. Her carefree and friendly demeanor was gone, and in its place stood a woman who would demolish anyone who stood in her way.

    The trainers and pokemon didn¡¯t even bother to look his way, as they had their full attention on Cynthia. The trainers had their phones out, taking pictures or filming videos of their upcoming bout, which already was a terrible sign.

    ¡°Smeargle.¡±

    Smeargle calmly said his name, jolting Ethan out of his worrisome thoughts. The dog-painter was looking up into Ethan¡¯s eyes¡ªno fear, no worry¡­ nothing. Smeargle pointed at himself with his orange-tipped tail and then out to the field with a question. Ethan smiled and rubbed his bereted head. ¡°Maybe¡­ thanks for offering. I think It¡¯s Chatot and Pachirisu¡¯s time to shine. It¡¯s their first time.¡±

    Smeargle nodded and turned his body to look at Cynthia, waiting for the battle to begin.

    Seeing that he was ready, Cynthia spoke out loudly in a sure and strong voice. ¡°This will be a four v.s one battle between Ethan Reed, pokemon tutor and breeder, and myself, Champion Cynthia. Ethan will have three substitutions available to him and I will judge whether or not a pokemon is unable to battle. Are you ready, Ethan?¡±

    Ethan turned his head from side to side, looking at Chatot and Pachirisu, before nodding toward Cynthia. ¡°I will send out my pokemon, then you may choose which one to send out.¡±

    Cynthia didn¡¯t even need to look at her waist as she chose her pokeball. She flicked out her wrist, sending the normal pokeball flying outwards, releasing a feline of ice and snow.

    ¡°Glaceon!¡± The ice-type evolution had a faint mist surrounding her form, but her keen eyes scanned her surroundings. She registered the small field, and then Ethan, but turned to look at Cynthia with a questioning gaze. Seeing Cynthia¡¯s hard look, Glaceon turned back around and lowered herself to the ground in a ready stance. Not another word needed to be said between the two of them.

    Chatot fluttered her wings, wanting to be sent out, but Ethan wasn¡¯t dumb enough to send a flying type versus an ice type. He was bad at the games, but he wasn¡¯t that bad. ¡°Pachirisu. You¡¯re up first.¡±

    With a resolute nod and a confident ¡®Pachi!¡¯ Ethan¡¯s electric rodent launched himself off Ethan¡¯s shoulder and righted himself on the field. Ethan¡¯s heart was hammering in his chest. He knew all of Pachirisu¡¯s moves, but none of them were super effective versus an ice type.

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

    ¡°Glaceon, take it easy. Begin!¡± Cynthia commanded.

    And the two pokemon wasted no time. Pachirisu immediately sprinted off to his left, summoning white stars which launched toward the ever-growing mist enveloping Glaceon as she ran clockwise to match the circling rodent. Not even three seconds had passed before small pieces of hail began dropping from the sky, Glaceon had used either Hail or Snowscape.

    ¡°Keep using Swift! Glaceon has the ability Snow cloak! She¡¯ll be harder to hit in the hailstorm!¡± Ethan shouted.

    Cynthia smirked and nodded, approving of his order, but gave a command of her own. ¡°Match the Swifts and set-up.¡±

    Glaceon¡¯s stars of Swift came out instantaneously, larger, and more numerous, than Pachirisu¡¯s. Pachirisu chittered in a panic, then dug down using Dig to avoid the stars altogether, as his move was being blasted apart. Glaceon didn¡¯t appear to be alarmed at the use of Dig, and sat calmly on her hind legs as her eyes flared purple. Using Calm Mind if Ethan was to hazard a guess.

    ¡°Come up and Eerie Impulse, Pachirisu!¡± Ethan shouted loudly so that Pachirisu could hear him from beneath the earth. Eerie Impulse was an interesting move Ethan didn¡¯t even know existed. He¡¯d researched it as it was the move he¡¯d used against Chatot during their bout for his shoulder, and it lowered the target''s special attack stat by two stages. Whether that did a lot in the real world? Ethan didn¡¯t know, but he had to cancel out the buffs from Calm-Mind one way or another.

    Like all the times before, Pachirisu launched himself out of his hole, sending himself high up into the air. While he missed Glaceon by a few feet upon his exit, he¡¯d heard Ethan¡¯s command and used Eerie Impulse when he reached maximum altitude. The spiraling electric ray was nearly unavoidable given its speed. It tagged Glaceon as she hopped back into the ever-growing snowscape.

    ¡°Ice Shard.¡± Cynthia said, causing a thick crystal of ice to launch out of the mist, leaving a gaping hole in its wake revealing Glaceon as she prowled about, formerly unseen. As Pachirisu was still falling from its launch, he was unable to dodge out of the way and was slammed with the crystalline Ice Shard, sending him tumbling through the air. Ethan already had a hand on Pachirisu¡¯s pokeball and was about to recall him, but Cynthia spoke loudly. ¡°Don¡¯t. He¡¯s not done yet.¡±

    Ethan ignored her words, not even bothering to look at her, as he recalled Pachirisu before he impacted the ground. ¡°I¡¯m using a switch.¡±

    Cynthia gave him a disapproving look, but waved her hand for him to send out another pokemon.

    This was a horrible idea. This wasn¡¯t a match they could win. While he appreciated Pachirisu¡¯s and Chatot¡¯s enthusiasm to battle, he didn¡¯t have an ounce of their motivation. He didn¡¯t care if he won, and couldn¡¯t be upset against losing to The Champion¡­ but he wanted to try his best for his pokemon. They¡¯ve done a lot for him, and it was time to return the favor.

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot! ?¡±

    Chatot fluttered her wings and launched herself into the air, not even waiting for Ethan¡¯s command. She turned and gave him a cheery and excited smile as she soared upwards, much higher than in her battle with Pachirisu, likely having learned her lesson.

    Unsurprisingly, Chatot used her favorite opener¡ªChatter. Her singsong squawks sent forth a rainbow aura of color, which washed over the entirety of the snowing and hailing field.

    ¡°Gla!¡± The shocked and confused tone of Glaceon yipped from within the snow, unseen, but not unheard.

    Seeing as the bright eyes and eager smile of his first companion, he¡¯d try his best to support his pokemon¡¯s dumb decision. ¡°Use Round!¡±

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot-tot-tot! ?¡±

    Another blast of colorful sound was sent barreling down into the hazardous terrain which Chatot circled over. She was flying outside of his small training field, but Cynthia didn¡¯t seem to care about that minor bit of rule breaking in their spar.

    ¡°Set-up again. Plus three.¡± Cynthia said calmly as she kept her eyes locked on Chatot as she flew up above.

    Ethan had two choices here. One, he could order Chatot to use Taunt, stopping the use of Calm Mind, or he could order Encore and have her locked into the move. Since Cynthia was unable to switch. He went for the latter.

    ¡°Encore!¡±

    Chatot clapped her two wings together as she sang a happy, encouraging bird song.

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot tooot-tooooooot! ?¡±

    ¡°Now, go all out! Hyper Voice and Round! Whatever you feel comfortable with!¡± Ethan shouted.

    Chatot sped up, launching colorful sound waves toward the faint yips heard throughout the snow. Cynthia, still unflinching, kept her eyes on the sky. ¡°Enough playing around, Ice beam.¡±

    The sound of rupturing, crackling ice was the only warning Ethan and Chatot had before a trail of cyan-blue icy-energy rocketed out of the mist and slammed into Chatot. He wasn¡¯t sure if it was the difference in power, or whether his colorful bird was just unlucky, but Chatot fell down as an ice cube toward the ground, frozen solid. He recalled her and stared at her ball as his heart ached.

    That¡­ wasn¡¯t her best showing. She got hit by a singular move and was frozen solid. A part of him worried about her health, but since Cynthia was standing calm and confident across the field, he assumed that the frozen effect was similar to the games. She wasn¡¯t in any real danger.

    As he gazed sorrowfully at Chatot¡¯s pokeball, He looked up to meet Cynthia¡¯s fierce eyes. ¡°We¡¯re done. I surrender. Shuckle doesn¡¯t like to battle and Smeargle isn¡¯t my pokemon.¡± As he finished speaking, Ethan felt a small press into his waist. Looking down, he saw Pachirisu¡¯s pokeball wiggling, pressing itself into his hip.

    While Ethan was focused on the wiggling pokeball, Cynthia walked over. Even though she wasn¡¯t as tall as him, he felt like she was a giant as her shadow crossed over him.

    ¡°Your pokemon could still continue.¡± Cynthia stated, causing Ethan to shrug. It was his first battle, and it was hardly a minute long. He was going to make mistakes.

    Cynthia walked alongside him as he turned to head off toward his home.She gazed about his ranch as she spoke. ¡°One hit was all it took for you to recall Pachirisu. Do you think he would send himself too high into the air if he was afraid of being hurt upon landing? He knows what he¡¯s capable of and he would have been fine once he landed¡ªIce Shard or not.¡±

    She sighed and carried on. ¡°Chatot and Ice Beam was an unlucky freeze. That recall was understandable. While you may think me cruel for using Ice Beam, Glaceon wasn¡¯t actually using any set-up moves. After Eerie Impulse, its strength was weakened severely. I would not hurt your pokemon, Ethan. I just wanted to show you that they are more powerful than you think. Your Chatot is growing nicely. When she¡¯s able to use Boomburst with no downside, she will be a formidable pokemon.¡±

    Ethan smiled as he shook his head. ¡°She doesn¡¯t need to be a formidable pokemon. She can be if she wants to, but she doesn¡¯t need to. You and all the others who go on their journeys can feel free and train your pokemon to be the best of the best, but I¡¯m happy with friends and family. I¡¯ll be the support those battlers need. A place for pokemon to rest and recover, to learn new things, to be safe. That is what I want to do.¡±

    Ethan opened the door to his home and walked into his kitchen to place the two pokemon eggs he¡¯d been carrying on the table. Cynthia walked inside and looked around his home with an appreciative gaze. ¡°I understand. I just think that you and your pokemon would be safer if you were to have some experience and strength.¡±

    He walked off toward his room, then into the bathroom to begin heating the water for a shower. Hopefully, a warm shower would help his chilled bird. ¡°I lived out here in the wilderness for a year without any pokemon. I think I know how much danger I could be in. The only true danger is other people at this point.¡±

    ¡°And that¡¯s what I¡¯m worried about¡­¡± Cynthia said, causing Ethan to turn and look at her conflicted face.

 Chapter 33

    ¡°Well, that sounds ominous.¡± Ethan said as he released Chatot from her pokeball under the warm water. To his surprise and relief, most of the ice which had coated her had faded away. He would have to question if the inside of her pokeball was wet later, and how this even happened in the first place¡­ actually, asking her about thermodynamics probably wouldn¡¯t be wise.

    Cynthia leaned against the doorframe as she watched Ethan care for his pokemon. ¡°From what I was told, our world was a series of entertainment to you. One not gruesome, nor filled with obscene or graphic content. This is the real world, Ethan. There are murderers, bullies, thugs, and thieves around.¡±

    Ethan nodded along, unconcerned so far. It¡¯s not like Earth was a place of niceties. This wasn¡¯t anything out of his expectations. ¡°I understand that, but surely this advice goes for everyone? Or, is there a reason you¡¯re warning me specifically?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re running a business, and I wasn¡¯t lying when I said your fields of berry trees were worth a small fortune. You¡¯re responsible for the pokemon under your care. Whether that be for tutoring or breeding. Any harm that befalls them is your fault. You¡¯ll need to have at least a few pokemon at the fourth badge level, as that is what is considered average for those who battle. Preferably, the stronger the better, but I understand that strength isn¡¯t something you seek.¡± Cynthia was trying her best to not sound condescending, but he could tell from her tone that she was at least a little-bit disapproving about his lack of enthusiasm for battling.

    Ethan actually laughed at the thought of someone coming to make serious trouble at his ranch. While he wasn¡¯t sure about all of the pokemon who traveled to his small safe haven of food, he was positive that he had more than a few helpers who¡¯d duke it out when push came to shove¡ªthem being his pokemon or not.

    ¡°Well, I think some of the local pokemon would put up a rather good fight against anybody seeking trouble around here. Unlike a proper pokemon battle, I am not afraid to send a swarm of ten, twenty, or more pokemon at the closest threat. If I can¡¯t beat them with strength, I¡¯ll do it with numbers. Speaking of which, did you notice the Oddish?¡±

    Cynthia raised a brow but shook her head. So, he gave her a tip. ¡°Look out my bedroom window.¡±

    As Cynthia wandered over to his window, out of sight, Chatot basked in the warm waters as she shivered.

    ¡°Cha-Cha-Cha-Cha¡­.¡± Her beak clacked rapidly, chilly from the bone-deep cold. Ethan reached over with a slight smile and turned up the heat some more, causing Chatot to chatter in contentment as the hot water ran through her drenched feathers.

    From the other room, Ethan could hear Cynthia¡¯s soft remark of, ¡°Oh.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m surprised most people don¡¯t see them immediately, but I suppose if you don¡¯t know they¡¯re there they¡¯d be pretty stealthy. I¡¯ll be having fifty more of them around here soon enough. Gloom planted some seeds.¡± Ethan said with a raised voice so that Cynthia could hear him over the running water and Chatot¡¯s clacking beak.

    Cynthia returned to the doorway, head turned to the side to gaze out the window. ¡°They¡¯re wild?¡±

    Ethan reached and grabbed Chatot¡¯s wings to spread them open, making sure to get all the tiny ice crystals out of every nook and cranny of her feathery body. ¡°Yup. They¡¯ve been here for almost as long as I have. We¡¯re good friends.¡±

    ¡°Have they ever attacked anyone before?¡± Cynthia asked, blank faced but inquisitive.

    ¡°Not that I¡¯m aware of. They do give a mean stink eye to those who pass by, but that¡¯s about it. Why do you ask?¡±

    ¡°Because Poison Powder and Stun Spore can kill a person. Especially all the way out here with no pokemon center or hospital nearby¡­¡± Cynthia flicked her eyes to him, ignoring the window. ¡°Have you ever been attacked by a pokemon, Ethan?¡±

    Since that was one of his greatest fears when he first arrived, he knew the answer without having to think. ¡°No. Never.¡±

    Cynthia gave him an indecipherable look before she reached into her satchel and threw her pokegear back onto her wrist. ¡°Well, that¡¯s good. I¡¯ll contact Looker later to get you set-up with some of the necessities to run this place like a proper business. I¡¯m running late. Train up your pokemon when you have the free time. I¡¯ll be in touch.¡±

    With a wave goodbye, Ethan watched as Cynthia left his room, then heard the front door open and clang shut. She was acting a little weird¡­ but maybe he was the weird one.

    ¡°Cha-Cha-Cha-Cha-Cha-Cha-Cha-Cha-Cha-Cha-Cha-Cha-Cha.¡±

    Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

    Ethan clapped his hand around Chatot¡¯s beak, causing her to ruffle her feathers in displeasure. ¡°I know you¡¯re not cold anymore. You¡¯re doing that for fun. Tone it down a bit.¡± Ethan laughed as he let go. Chatot, now free to do what she wanted, gave him a sneaky and mischievous side eye, then jumped out of the shower and sprinted away on her talons while flapping her wings. She was still soaking wet, and her rapid movements sent sprays of water everywhere. He was reeling from the sudden water attack, soaked, as he heard Chatot¡¯s battlecry from the living room.

    ¡°? Cha-Chatooot-Cha-Chatooot-Cha-Cha-Cha-Chatooot-Cha-Cha-Cha-Chatooooooooot! ?¡±

    Ethan surged out of the bathroom, ready to tackle her to the ground at the first chance he got. ¡°I thought you were a bird! Not a Growlithe!¡±

    ¡ª----------------------------

    After Ethan failed to wrangle his bird, as she escaped out the door and soared into the sky, he sat down at his kitchen table and finally made the calls he was meaning to make earlier. He dialed up Hugo, Hitmonlee¡¯s trainer, first.

    ¡°Hello?¡± Hugo¡¯s voice came through the phone, and Ethan put on his best customer service impression. ¡°Hi Hugo, it¡¯s Ethan Reed from¡­ Berry Falls Ranch.¡± Ethan mentally facepalmed upon the made up name as he continued on. ¡°Your Hitmonlee has finished learning Low Sweep and is ready for you to pick him up at your earliest convenience.¡±

    Ethan heard some shuffling on the other side of the phone, then Hugo¡¯s flabbergasted, excited voice. ¡°Already? Wow! How has he been doing?¡±

    Ethan smiled upon thinking of the hard working martial artist. ¡°Fantastic. Hitmonlee is a very hard worker and was a natural. At this very moment, he is still out there kicking away. He put everything he had into learning Low Sweep for you.¡±

    He heard a scoff. ¡°Yeah right, that fighter did this all for himself!¡± Hugo laughed. ¡°Thanks for the heads up. I¡¯ll come back in a day or two and pick him up. Was there anything else?¡±

    Seeing as Hugo was wanting to end the call, Ethan didn¡¯t feel a need for it to linger. ¡°No, that was it. See you soon.¡±

    Click

    Next, was Sneasel¡¯s trainer, Sarah. ¡°Hello?¡±

    ¡°Hi, it¡¯s Ethan Reed from Berry Falls Ranch. The tutoring of your Sneasel has finished. He has Sucker Punch like the best of them. You can come and pick him up at your earliest convenience.¡±

    After some more excited back and forth, Ethan ended the call with the promise of Sarah coming for Sneasel in a few days. Now that all his calls had been made, Ethan left his house and wandered back over toward the training field.

    All the nearby trainers had recorded his and Cynthia¡¯s match, so it was going to be a mess when he arrived. Questions, no real answers, and having to explain his loss was what he imagined was coming his way. As he walked down the cobblestone path, Ethan sighed and released Pachirisu from his pokeball, dreading the incoming conversation.

    Pachirisu appeared a few steps ahead of him, materializing with his arms crossed as he tapped a foot impatiently. With sparking charged cheeks and a glare, Pachirisu grandiosely pointed a finger at Ethan and began his rant as he stood measured steps forward.

    ¡°Pachi-pach-pach-PA!¡± Pachirisu angrily jabbed his finger into Ethan¡¯s shin as he continued. ¡°Pachirisu-pach-pachi!¡± Then, he jabbed once more, pushing his finger into Ethan¡¯s shin with some actual force. ¡°PACHI!¡± He turned and strutted away, then plomped down on his butt in the middle of the cobblestone path, sulking.

    Ethan accepted the talk down from his pokemon, as he knew Pachirisu wouldn¡¯t be happy with his decision to recall him. He was just¡­ scared of Pachirisu being hurt. ¡°Listen, do you know why I recalled you?¡±

    Pachirisu flicked his tail in dismissal, not turning around to face Ethan. So, he walked around to stand in front of Pachirisu, only for the electric rodent to rotate his body to turn around again. ¡°It hurts me to see you get hurt.¡±

    Pachirisu¡¯s fluffy tail flickered, but that was it. Ethan stood behind his pal and tried to explain himself, both about the present and the future. ¡°I don¡¯t like battling, Pachirisu. I¡¯m not good at it, and if I make the wrong call, you¡¯re the one who¡¯s paying the price.¡± Ethan walked forward and knelt down right behind his friend. ¡°I know you and Chatot both are interested in battling¡­ and that¡¯s okay. If you want to battle, then I will do what I can to help you¡­ but it¡¯s going to take a while for me to get used to it. There will be mistakes, as I¡¯m not a perfect person, but we can train and maybe battle some of the trainers who stop by the ranch. I just¡ªWhen you get hurt, I worry that since we¡¯re so far away from a pokemon center that you could¡­ not make it out if things go wrong. We don¡¯t have a way to get you to safety and to get you care should things go bad. If you and Chatot both want to battle, and you¡¯re sure that it¡¯s something you two really want, then I will find a way to make it work. There''s lots of pokemon who can heal others, and I will do my best to find one who wants to live with us¡­¡±

    Pachirisu still didn¡¯t turn around, and Ethan¡¯s voice was beginning to crack from the pent up emotions. ¡°If¡ªIf you want to leave me and fi¡ªfind someone to go battle with that¡¯s oka¡ªOOF¡±

    ¡°PaAaAaAAaAaAaa!¡± Pachirisu¡¯s blubbering cry and wet tears soaked Ethan as Pachirisu latched on and rubbed his charged cheeks all across his face. Ethan gave the world''s most awkward hug, as he basically tried to hug his own face, as he comforted his electric friend. It was obvious that Pachirisu didn¡¯t want to leave, and he was glad that was the case. ¡°I¡¯m not perfect, but I¡¯ll always try my best for you. I just¡­ need time to learn and adapt.¡±

    After another half a minute of blubbering ¡°Pachi¡±, Pachirisu calmed down and clambered over to his shoulder, wrapping his tail around Ethan¡¯s neck as he hiccupped. ¡°Do you want to go in your ball? To calm down?¡±

    Pachirisu hesitantly nodded, and Ethan recalled his friend. He stared lovingly at the pokeball before he clipped it onto his belt and wiped his own tears as he continued back down the cobblestone path. He still had work to do, and he was sure more people would be on their way toward his ranch soon enough.

    The sound of a berry falling to the ground reminded Ethan of this place''s new name¡ªBerry Falls.

 Chapter 34

    Ethan stood at the exit to his plot of land and waved away the three Simis and their trainers with a smile on his face. The three monkeys were hopping around excitedly, swinging their arms as their face scrunched up and thin streams of fog arose from their bodies¡ªThe move Work-Up in effect.

    With these three leaving, all of those who stayed at his ranch had left. It¡¯d been two days since Ethan had a small heart to heart with Pachirisu, and although a small amount of time had passed, a lot had happened.

    The first and most apparent, was that he¡¯d been successful in tutoring all of the pokemon who¡¯d tried their luck by coming to him¡ªinexperienced as he was. Those who had stayed with their trainers had left, but Sneasel, Hitmonlee, Gogoat, and Growlithe were still around. They had either already finished their tutoring and were waiting for their trainers, or in the case of Gogoat and Growlithe, on the cusp of finishing.

    The second notable thing which had happened was the many, many trainers who¡¯d begun stopping by in hopes of his services. Around fifteen trainers had show-up out of the blue, and Ethan turned every single one of them down. Until he properly set-up his end of the business, he wasn¡¯t going to accept anymore pokemon. He needed contracts, the internet, a computer, a printer, and many more things before he was comfortable having strangers stay at his ranch once again. He¡¯d be able to enforce contracts and have a system in place for registering ahead of time¡ªa website maybe? Cynthia had talked about getting that ready for him, but he wasn¡¯t sure when the items would arrive.

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot! ?¡±

    Without turning around, Ethan held out his arm like a falconer, letting Chatot land and clasp her talons onto his bare forearm. The nice thing about pokemon, was that they were more than aware of how strong they were, and how weak humans tended to be. Chatot was gentle with him, as she always was, but he had no doubt that if she wanted too, she could break his arm with a powerful squeeze.

    Chatot¡¯s tail wagged back and forth, clicking and clacking as it swung like a pendulum. She fluffed her feathers, then began singing the song they¡¯d been practicing.

    ¡°Oh, say can you seeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

    By Dawn¡¯s early light-tot¡­.¡±

    Ethan stroked her head as he corrected her mistake.

    ¡°By the dawns, not by Dawn¡¯s. You¡¯re getting better and better. Once you get this down, then we can find another song¡­ or get you to create a voice of your own.¡± Ethan always shivered when he heard Chatot practicing from afar. Hearing his own voice was always disconcerting, but hearing himself sing was worse.

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot! ?¡±

    Chatot pecked Ethan¡¯s cheek softly, giving him a small kiss, before she flew off back to his home. She¡¯d taken to roosting up there, even going so far as to create a small nest for herself. She had her metronome up there as well, and when he cooked for his family and friends, he could often hear the faint soothing ticks and tocks emanating from the device on his roof.

    Since he didn¡¯t have to worry about any obtrusive trainers messing up his way of life for the foreseeable future, Ethan went around his ranch to check up on the many pokemon who called this place home.

    As he stopped in front of Shuckle¡¯s hole, he knelt down on the grassy ground and listened into the darkness with a cupped ear.

    ¡°Shuuu-Shuck. Shuck-shuck-shuckle!¡±

    With a smirking smile, he continued to listen to his berry buddy as he chatted with his newest friend¡ªthe very caring and friendly Dunsparce.

    ¡°Dun-dun! Dunspar.¡±

    ¡°Shuuuuu.¡±

    The two tunneling pokemon have been inseparable since they first met. Shuckle, because he didn¡¯t see Dunsparce as a threat, and he was his first true-friend, and Dunsparce because he¡¯d taken over a caring role for the young, afraid, and cautious berry loving pokemon. Ethan¡¯s heart nearly melted when he¡¯d noticed the caring role Dunsparce had taken in Shuckle¡¯s life. He¡¯d encouraged Shuckle to try new things, scared away any reckless pokemon who wanted to take a little nip at him, (The local Starly being curious.) and listened patiently as Shuckle rambled on and on about the things he liked.

    Dunsparce was a male pokemon, but he was acting like a mother for the young Shuckle. Ethan dreaded the moment when Dunsparce¡¯s trainer would pick him up. When he had to leave and leave Shuckle behind. He¡¯d leave the two pokemon to be for now, and he hoped that Dunsparce properly prepared his partner for when he had to leave.

    As he walked by his house, picking up a basket of berries along the way, he checked up on the Oddish and singular Gloom. They were resting, as they usually did, and their leaves weren¡¯t moving a millimeter in the gently blowing wind. Gloom, now that it¡¯d evolved, stood out like a sore thumb. The much larger pokemon was no longer as stealthy as its brethren, but he made up for that by having the ability to move around more during the day.

    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    While it was resting now, he¡¯d seen the drooling pokemon waddling about his trees here and there these past two days, drooling on the roots and the vegetables in his personal food farm. Originally, the sight had made his stomach churn, but after seeing, in real time, how his vegetables grew to their maximum size? A little-bit of drool wasn¡¯t going to be the end of the world.

    In the past two days, Gloom had also often gone into the meadow to check up on the little sprouts that had begun peeking out of the ground¡ªits children. Gloom never asked for any help when it came to tending to the baby Oddish sprouts, but he didn¡¯t mind Ethan coming around to watch it work¡ªwhich consisted of more drooling.

    All in all, Ethan was glad that one of his plant friends could interact more with its surroundings during the day.

    Leisurely, Ethan walked out into the meadow, careful of his steps, and made his way to the small pond with the basket of berries in hand. As he approached, the Krabby, who never appeared to leave his King¡¯s Rock, turned his body and scuttled back and forth while snipping and snapping its claws angrily. Ethan waved at the grumpy, grouchy crab, then chucked an oran at it. Krabby clamped down on it, splattering it into paste, then stuck its claws into its small mouth and glared at Ethan as he laughed.

    ¡°Marilllll¡±

    ¡°Mariiii¡±

    The two Marill who called this pond home calmly paddled over with their tails intertwined, the sweet couple inseparable. They walked up onto the land, then to Ethan. Since this had never happened before, he knelt down to the two water mouse pokemon. As he knelt, the berry basket he carried lowered to the ground along with him, and the two Marill came forward and started to rummage through the assortment of berries as they chatted with one another.

    Ethan, slightly hurt that they weren¡¯t coming up onto the land for him, but for his food, watched the two pokemon sort and inspect through the assortment of berries. One found a nice, plump Sitrus berry, and turned to feed it to its partner, who chomped down on it gleefully.

    The Feebas and Magikarp had now come to the surface, mouths doing their buccal pumping, (The action of opening and closing of a fish''s mouth.) as they awaited their food.

    The Magikarp were sadly still as intelligent as they seemed, which wasn¡¯t much at all. He had hoped that he could start to see some individualism, but it didn¡¯t look like it was going to happen anytime soon. None of them had preferences for berries, simply flapping their tails to launch themselves toward the nearest surface disruption, and none of them reacted to him calling out their name.

    The Feebas on the other hand, did have some individuality among them. Also, he¡¯d begun noticing a noticeable improvement in their color. They were still fairly ugly, but their scales were no longer as dark a brown, and they appeared much cleaner than they were in the small stream he¡¯d found them in. They patiently waited for their turn for berries, and Ethan did his best to boost their self esteem and hopefully get himself a local milotic.

    ¡°Okay, you beautiful little fishies. Do you have any preferences?¡± Ethan gestured toward his basket, and while two of the Feebas shook their heads no, one of them gave him a minute nod.

    ¡°Feebas.¡±

    Ethan held up all of the berries he¡¯d brought with him one by one, which were the ones that had fallen from the trees, which he had too much of. Eventually, Feebas nodded at the half and half, blue and green, Apricot berry. It was one of the mushiest berries he had, and they were as sour as a lemon. He tossed the Feebas two of the plump berries, and watched as it flailed through the water to slurp them up.

    The Marill wandered off back toward the water with some spare Sitrus berries in hand and giant smiles, then floated/swam across the surface toward a lone, vibrantly green lily-pad.

    A lily-pad Ethan never remembered having.

    Both Marills let go of the berries, letting them float on top of the water''s surface. They used their tails as hammers to bat away the Magikarp, who pestered them as they jettisoned single-mindedly toward the floating fruits.

    While one Marill was playing guard duty, the other grabbed a fruit, took a deep breath, then dove underneath the water to swim underneath the lily-pad. The lily-pad spun in a circle, seemingly turning around on its own accord, then gently floated toward the water¡¯s edge¡ªthe side opposite from Ethan.

    The Pok¨¦mon that emerged from the water was one of the most bizarre creatures Ethan had ever encountered. This is including the fact that the first pokemon he¡¯d ever seen was a Tympole.

    A cyan blue¡­ duck thing with six nubbly legs and a flat, brilliant yellow beak waddled out of the water with a Sitrus berry in its mouth. It flopped down onto the grass, spread its six legs wide-eagle, then noticed Ethan standing across the pond.

    Instantly, Ethan felt pity for the pokemon. Its two abnormally large oval eyes struggled to take in his humanoid form, as it was looking both directions at the same time. He¡¯d heard about lazy eyes, and even knew many people with them¡­ but this pokemon had comatose eyes. It looked like the silliest creature on Arceus¡¯ green¡­ whatever this planet is called¡ªDo they call it Earth?

    ¡°Taaaaaaad.¡± The low droning call was aimed directly at Ethan, and so he gave the smaller pokemon a little wave. The pokemon, a Lotad if he remembered correctly, gave him a giant dopey smile and munched on the Sitrus berry that the Marills had given it.

    ¡°Feel free to live here. Lots of food to go around.¡± Ethan said to the Lotad, earning him a small, slow nod and a continuation of the dopey smile.

    As he picked up his basket and made to leave, Ethan thought about the newest pokemon to call his place home. He wasn¡¯t sure if he should hope that all Lotads were like that, but he also didn¡¯t want the one that had found its way here to be¡­ an outlier. A call to Nurse Joy would be needed. Before he properly left, he snapped a few quick photos to send her way.

    As he wandered back through the meadow, he spotted Gogoat and Blitzle racing along the sides. The two pokemon loved to run. They didn¡¯t need any motivation, games, or berries to have them train their speed, as they themselves loved the activity. They¡¯d been hanging about one another more and more, and Ethan had caught them sleeping next to one another just this morning¡­ But for now, it was time to check up on the others.

    The next on the list were Smeargle and Growlithe.

 Chapter 35

    ¡°Gro! Grooooo-gro-growl!¡±

    Ethan blankly stared at the firedog, who was barking at the closed door of his guest room while pattering his paws on the ground in excitement. His little poofy cream colored tail wagged back and forth from the shaking of his butt, and Ethan had no clue why Growlithe was so excited.

    As he was about to ask, the dismissing tone of Smeargle droned out from the other side of the closed door. ¡°Smear-Smeargle!¡±

    Growlithe shook his head, seemingly having heard something funny as he chuffed and scratched at the door.

    ¡°So¡­ what¡¯s going on here?¡± Ethan finally asked, not wanting his door to be dismantled by the powerful doggo.

    Growlithe whipped around, lowered his stance, and was about to charge into Ethan in happiness, but quickly stopped and looked over his shoulder toward the door. Ethan nearly choked from laughter as Growlithe¡¯s grand plan was to whine and scratch the door, like a dog from Earth wanting to be let outside.

    Ethan walked forward, causing Growlithe¡¯s pitiful faux-whine to evaporate as he readied himself to charge into the doorway as soon as it opened. Ethan knocked once on the wood, then spoke to Smeargle on the other side. ¡°Smeargle, why is Growlithe kicked out of the room?¡±

    A hurried shuffling could be heard on the other side of the room. After waiting a few seconds and growing worried about what was happening, something was pushed underneath the door. Kneeling down, Ethan grabbed the corner of a bedsheet painted with orange paint. He cringed at his ruined sheet, but saw a cartoonish depiction of Smeargle holding two pokemon eggs as he fended off a small dog with his tail like it was a sword.

    ¡°You got the two eggs with you?¡±

    ¡°Smear!¡±

    ¡°Gro!¡±

    Growlithe repeatedly scratched the door with both of his paws, desperately wanting to be let inside. Ethan weighed the consequences of letting a hyper-zoomed Growlithe into an enclosed space with two pokemon eggs and came to a decision. ¡°Growlithe, you¡¯re a smart dog. If you damage those two pokemon eggs, I don¡¯t think you need me to tell you what is going to happen to you.¡±

    Growlithe lowered his butt as he nodded. He jumped back and forth, eager to be let inside. Ethan tried to open the door, but felt a load of resistance. ¡°Smeargle¡­ Did you bar the door?¡±

    After a few seconds of awkward silence, a lone ¡®Smeargle¡­¡± was heard. After more shuffling from the other side, Smeargle gingerly opened the door an inch and peered through the gap. In that moment of weakness, Growlithe shoved his head into the gap as he yipped and hollered with glee, wiggling himself into the room as Smeargle tried his best to slam the door closed.

    The fire-dog got in, so Smeargle abandoned his door-guardian duties, running over toward the two eggs which were placed on the bed. He curled around them protectively as Growlithe sniffed and circled around them in excitement. Ethan entered the room, finding it to be a complete mess, and sat down on the corner of the mattress as he watched the two pokemon care about the eggs in their own way.

    ¡°Valiant attempt Hodor, but you couldn¡¯t have kept him away forever.¡± Ethan joked as he kept a careful eye on the rowdy pupper. While he didn¡¯t think the loyal dog would do anything to hurt the eggs intentionally, accidents happened¡ªespecially when excited.

    The past two days, Ethan had done his fair share of research about pokemon eggs and how to care for them. With how these two came into his possession¡ªthem being from Team Galactic, not about how Cynthia basically offloaded unborn children into his waiting hands, he had to do his due diligence.

    For starters, Ethan had it in his mind that all of the eggs he¡¯d find would be either uniform in color and variation, or like those of a Togepi egg. While he was, of course, wrong with that assumption, he did find out that almost every egg for a species had signifying marks on the shells. While it wasn¡¯t a perfect science, the Pokemon League and Professor Elm had a large series of papers with pictures attached with labels signifying pokemon species and their egg.

    Not all of the species were labeled. Some of them didn¡¯t have attached photos and had remarks written about sending in information to the pokemon research laboratory in New Bark town if they had any relevant information to share. What was interesting, was that the photos and information were filtered in accordance to the PokeDex. With it starting off with Bulbasaur, who was PokeDex entry number one.

    When he had scrolled through the pages and got deeper and deeper into unknown territory, more and more missing information appeared. So, to Ethan¡¯s brain, he concluded that the later the generation of pokemon, the less information they had. Sadly, this wasn¡¯t an area which his prior knowledge could help out with, as he himself didn¡¯t know too much past, say, a Mimikyu.

    Needless to say, he found the information for caring for pokemon eggs. Firstly, if you didn¡¯t know which pokemon you had, or were raising an egg found in the wild, then keeping them in a room temperature environment and making sure they didn¡¯t break was about all you had to do. Technically, you could do this with any egg, but doing so would cause the development of the pokemon inside to take a long, long time. A good example provided was hatching a Slugma next to a volcano versus at room temperature. While both pokemon would end up being happy and healthy, the hatching times varied enormously. For the Slugma hatched in extreme heat, it could hatch in as little as three days¡­ for the one at room temperature, you were looking at a month or more.

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    As he liked the pokemon he¡¯d hatch to continue being a surprise, added with the fact that they would be healthy in the end, he was giving them both the normal egg treatment. He didn¡¯t know how old these eggs were, or what sort of environments they needed, but maybe they liked how it was. Berry Falls was a place of nature, life, and beauty, surely that would have some effect?

    ¡°Gro?¡±

    Growlithes questioning bark knocked Ethan out of his thoughts. Growlithe had his forehead up against the egg with lightning, his eyes were crossed and intensely focused as he stared at the shell of the egg. As Ethan was about to ask what he was doing, the egg gave out one very minor wobble.

    ¡°Gro!¡±

    Growlithe carefully backed away from the egg, hopped off the bed, then sprinted around Ethan¡¯s home with the zoomies as he barked out his name in excitement.

    It appeared that the lightning egg was farther along in development compared to the pink star egg. Shaking was supposed to become more and more common toward the end of the development. So, sometime this week he might have another baby on his ranch¡ªShuckle will be an older brother.

    Smeargle curled his tail around both eggs, he¡¯d been taking care of them the best he could while Ethan was busy out and about on the ranch. Since Smeargle didn¡¯t have much to do around the ranch, he¡¯d taken it upon himself to watch over the eggs. Ethan gently rubbed the brim of Smeargle¡¯s beret head, smiling when he saw Smeargle¡¯s wide eyes and tongue sticking out of his mouth. ¡°Keep up the good work, but don¡¯t be afraid to let the other pokemon check in on the eggs too. They¡¯re pretty durable afterall.¡±

    And that much was true. Ethan had been extremely worried about dropping an egg or holding it too hard, but all of that was unnecessary.

    Pokemon eggs were tough.

    While he could still break or smash an egg if he really tried, a casual jostle wouldn¡¯t do anything. Even dropping the egg onto the floor while standing would do nothing¡ªnot that that¡¯s something you should be doing. He¡¯d need to physically stomp with all of his might to destroy a pokemon egg, and since that¡¯s something he¡¯d never do, he didn¡¯t have to worry too much.

    Ethan left Smeargle with the eggs as he went out to clean up the berry fields. Shuckle and Dunsparce were probably on the case, but he¡¯d help out anyways. He also needed to have an important chat with his berry buddy.

    As he left his home, Ethan spotted Pachirisu returning from the forest. The electric rodent had his back turned to him, struggling and tugging on an item near the treeline. ¡°Need some help?¡± Ethan asked, causing Pachirisu to pound his tail on the ground, signifying that yes, he indeed wanted help.

    Ethan hopped down the steps of his patio and crossed in between the sleeping Gloom and Oddish to make his way to Pachirisu. As he arrived, he saw the issue. Pachirisu was trying to pry a fist sized, jagged stone with smooth faces from out in between some roots. Ethan knelt and tried to finagle it out with his dexterous hands, but it was locked in there¡ªalmost like it was caged. ¡°Did you drop this? Or was it here already?¡± He asked as he struggled.

    Pachrisu pointed and rambled his name in a long winded explanation that Ethan couldn¡¯t understand. What he did understand was the voice which spoke to him.

    ¡°A new hand touches the beacon.¡±

    Ethan released the stone, stood up, wiped his hands on his pants, then nodded once to Pachirisu. ¡°Okay. Go roundup every single pokemon on the ranch. We¡¯re obliterating this rock.¡± He said flatly, resolute in his resolve. Not him, not here.

    Pachirisu gave him a salute. ¡°Pachi-pach!¡±

    As Pachirisu turned to leave, he paused when a different, more familiar voice spoke into their minds.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, kind one.¡±

    With a small blip of Teleport, Gardevoir appeared right beside him with her right hand grabbing the scruff of Ralt¡¯s neck. The Ralt¡¯s flailed around and mewled, having an absolute fit. The Ralt¡¯s eyes glowed and Ethan heard the original voice once again.

    ¡°Listen! Hear me and obey! A foul darkness has seeped into these woods! A darkness you will¡ª¡±

    Gardevoir yanked Ralt¡¯s up and down, shaking the small pokemon about. Then, once she let go and had the little girl spinning in circles like her evolved form from dizziness, she shot out a series of centric rings, putting her to sleep¡ªHypnosis if he had to guess. Gardevoir ran a hand over her head, almost as if she was tucking her hair behind her ear, then sighed mentally into his mind. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, kind one. This little one plays too many pranks. We have come to partake in your berries. Might we have some more?¡±

    Ethan blinked in confusion, then looked between the stone beneath the roots and the small sleeping and drooling Ralts. ¡°That¡¯s not the same Ralts from before, is it?¡±

    The Gardevoir gave him a stare of a mother taking care of a rowdy child. She was completely done with everything, but trying to be cordial. ¡°It is not.¡±

    ¡°Then¡­ the beacon?¡± Ethan asked.

    ¡°She read your surface thoughts, she will be punished. Now, the berries?¡±

    ¡°Oh, yeah, sure. Feel free. But, If you don¡¯t mind me asking, what do you need so many for? You took a good amount with you the last time. How big is your little¡­ coven?¡± Ethan knelt down and tried to work on the weird stone once again as Pachitisu played moral support in the background, letting him do all the work.

    ¡°We are many. Many berries have useful properties. We use the berries for those when the times arise, or we eat them for enjoyment and nutrients. Far north, there is a building of humans. Old, timeworm, and infested. The distorted appear there. They wander, and we deal with them from time to time. Thank you for the berries.¡±

    Ethan jerked back, finally managing to dislodge the weird fist-sized rock. When he turned to face Gardevoir once again, she was standing next to an enormous pile of berries. The pile stood nearly as tall as he did. His mouth dropped open from shock, but with another blip, Gardevoir, Ralts, and the mountain of berries were gone.

    ¡°Shuuuuuuuuuu!¡±

    Shuckle¡¯s cry caused Ethan to scan his fields, finding that every single fallen berry had been taken. The tree¡¯s themselves were still full and bustling, but the rows between them were now clear. Shuckle could be seen near the entrance to the first row, he laid on the ground, defeated, his limbs sprawled out like noodles, unmoving.

    ¡°Pach!¡± Pachirisu jumped up and stole the weird stone from within his hands.

    ¡°Shuuuuuuu!¡± Shuckle mourned the loss of his berry work.

    ¡°Dunsparce¡­¡± and Dunsparce did his best to comfort the downtrodden rocky-bug.

    Ethan put his hands on his hips and sighed. ¡°Well, that was interesting.¡±

 Chapter 36

    The next day, after finally finishing tutoring Gogoat and Growlithe, Ethan stood in his kitchen, cleaning the dishes from the afternoon lunch he¡¯d made for himself and all the pokemon who stayed at his ranch.

    Ethan idly gazed outside the window as he washed, watching Blitzle and the two newly taught pokemon, Gogoat and Growlithe, play in the meadow. They were playing a game of tag, which left Growlithe being the tagger most of the time, not that he cared at all, as he could run and chase everyone to his heart''s content. Gloom was up and about, watching their movements with a critical eye, drooling on all his trees as he patrolled the edges of the meadow. The gentle ticks of the metronome on his roof caused Ethan to begin scrubbing to the tempo subconsciously, his sudsy hands working tirelessly.

    As he smiled and scrubbed away, he heard the familiar, nervous and questioning voice of his berry-buddy Shuckle, and the sagely tone of his best friend Dunsparce. Recently, he¡¯d noticed that he could tell the tones of the voices of the pokemon surrounding him. At least, the one¡¯s he had been around for more than a few days. While he wasn¡¯t able to understand them, he could at least tell their moods with a non-zero degree of accuracy. It wasn¡¯t foolproof, as he was wrong at times, but it was helpful nonetheless.

    ¡°Shuuu?¡±

    ¡°Dunspar. Sparse.¡±

    *Knock* *Knock*

    Ethan put his final pan aside and began drying his hands with the towel resting across his shoulder. As he approached the door to let the two pokemon inside, he heard awkward shuffling and another pokemon¡ªOne which most definitely did not stay on his ranch. Ethan wasn¡¯t aware of many things, but he knew this pokemon wasn¡¯t native to Eterna Forest. This was someone¡¯s personal pokemon, and a smile crossed his face when thinking about the owner.

    ¡°Chansey-Chanse!¡±

    Opening the door revealed the pink haired form of Joyce Joy. She was awkwardly clutching an overly large bag in her arms as she stood on her tippy toes in a futile attempt to see over top of her cumbersome load. Instead of her normal nurse attire, she was wearing outdoorsy, but casual, traveling/hiking clothes. Her pink hair stood in stark contrast to the brown of her jacket.

    ¡°Need some help, Nurse Joy?¡± Ethan asked as he was already moving forward to help her.

    ¡°Ethan! What a wonderful ranch you have here¡ªand yes, some help would be appreciated.¡±

    Ethan grabbed half of Nurse Joy¡¯s overly large travel bag, then like two couch movers, he walked backwards into his home and placed the bag onto the ground in his living room.

    Nurse Joy wiped her forehead clear of the nonexistent sweat, then flashed him a brilliant smile. ¡°Sorry for dropping by unannounced, but luckily for me. I come by for pleasure and for business.¡± She gestured toward the bags as Chansey waddled inside along with Dunsparce and Shuckle.

    ¡°Since Looker knew that I was coming by sooner or later to see how you were doing, he asked me to bring you an assortment of goods to help you get adjusted. Cynthia had mentioned needing a business set-up, such as a computer, printer, and contracts. So, I have those. Privately, I heard from Cynthia that you were hesitant to battle for fear of injury¡­ So¡­.¡± Joyce bent forward and rummaged through what appeared to be the biggest Silph Co, bag in existence, then pulled out a vague familiar, several feet wide cube.

    The item in question appears well worn, and was about the size of a minifridge. The formerly colorful red and white paint had begun to peel, and it was still dusty, but it appeared to be fully functional. Joyce slapped the top of the contraption like a used car salesmen making a deal. ¡°While it¡¯s outdated, it still works. Do you know what it is?¡±

    Ethan walked around the machine, a nagging, but almost unbelieving thought intruding in his mind. ¡°A healing machine? Like, from the games?¡±

    ¡°Right-o! I had almost forgotten about them, but after seeing your memories, they appeared to be the staple of healing in the games you played. And, they were the staple, just, about twenty years ago. They still work, but we have much larger, faster, and efficient healing machines now. I managed to convince the clan to part ways with this one for you. It takes a lot of power and will take a few hours to fully heal a pokemon, but it¡¯s better than the nothing you have now.¡±

    The thought of a healing machine was nearly unbelievable. The amount of technological advancement and expertise needed to even guess how this worked would be well beyond him, but he wanted to know. ¡°Can you give me a very dumbed down explanation on how this works?¡±

    Nurse Joy nodded and flipped open the plastic see through cover and pointed at the six round concave slots. ¡°Here, you¡¯ll place your pokeballs. Once it¡¯s plugged in, it¡¯s already functional. It will start immediately, and lock the pokeballs in place magnetically until their healing is completed. It¡¯s not magic. It works with multiple forms of healing. The main one is with electricity. Electricity is a type of energy, it will transfer electrical energy into type energy, healing the pokemon via a semi-natural acceleration of their natural healing.¡±

    She went around the back of the machine, and slid out a panel which had slots and tubes. ¡°When it comes to poisons, freezes, and other status conditions, you might need medicine¡ªdepending on the severity. This is where those would go. I¡¯ve brought a bottle of each for you, and since you shouldn¡¯t be running into those issues often or at all, then they should last you a long time.¡±

    Ethan nodded along, causing Joyce to continue her spin around the healing machine. ¡°Here, you have the screen. When a pokeball is placed into the receptacle basins, it will scan the pokemon inside, letting you know which pokemon is inside the ball, a baseline of their health, and the trainer ID associated with the ball.¡±

    She finished her explanation and gave him a deadly serious gaze which almost locked him in place. Once she was aware she had his full attention, she spoke with conviction. ¡°This is not a toy. This is not an easy solution to your problems. While it won¡¯t harm the pokemon inside, do not rely on healing your pokemon this way every time. Once a week is fine¡ªand of course, when an emergency arises, do whatever you can to ensure your pokemons wellbeing, but do not overuse this machine. Super stimulating the natural recovery of pokemon constantly can lead to side-effects, and I will check up with you every once in a while out of the blue to ensure that you take this seriously. If I find that you¡¯re abusing this machine, and your pokemon in turn, I will ruin you. Am I understood?¡±

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    Normally, Ethan would be insulted at the insinuation that he¡¯d willingly harm his pokemon, but he knew from Earth that healthcare providers saw things the average person would have nightmares about. They also knew how stupid people could be. She was doing her due diligence, and that was to be respected. It¡¯s not like he was planning on doing any of that anyways. ¡°Understood.¡± He replied confidently.

    Nurse Joy¡¯s seriousness faded away in the blink of an eye as she smiled warmly and gazed around his home. ¡°I had seen this place in your memories for a short time, but a lot has changed. No more shack!¡±

    The sudden flip-flop of topics caused Ethan to laugh as he nodded along. ¡°That¡¯s true. Sleeping in a bed is a blessing. Even if a Growlithe!¡± Ethan flicked his eyes to the doorway, seeing the orange fur ball duck his head back outside. ¡°Wakes me up every morning.¡±

    ¡°Gro!¡±

    The huffing, unabashed Growlithe caused Joyce to cackle in laughter. She turned around, facing Chansey and then knelt down to get close to Dunsparce and Shuckle. Dunsparce wiggled forward, obviously aware of who Nurse Joy was or represented, but Shuckle edged himself into his shell. He hadn¡¯t withdrawn completely, but he was prepared to. That was an improvement in and of itself.

    ¡°Well hello there. It¡¯s been awhile since I¡¯ve seen a Dunsparce. You look big and strong!¡± Nurse Joy cooed, causing the older pokemon to wiggle in embarrassment.

    ¡°And you! My, what a little young Shuckle you are. Are you drinking enough juice, young man?¡±

    Shuckle twisted his noodly head to give Ethan an unsure glance. Ethan smiled and nodded along, causing Shuckle to look back at Nurse Joy and bob his head nervously.

    ¡°Are you happy?¡± She asked.

    Shuckle grew a gummy smile and nodded more surely. He came out of his shell fully, then drug himself toward Ethan¡¯s feet and gave them a hug. ¡°Shuuu!¡±

    Ethan¡¯s heart melted at the love shown to him, and he sat down on the floor, allowing Shuckle to climb up into his lap. He stroked Shuckle¡¯s yellow head, causing Shuckle¡¯s eyes to close in contentment. ¡°This is my Shuckle, Joyce. I told you I have a few pokemon that need to be registered to me.¡± He patted his hip, where the five pokeballs and Smeargle¡¯s Greatball rested.

    ¡°And that, I can do.¡± Nurse Joy smiled at him, obviously happy at the love Ethan and Shuckle had for one another. ¡°Why don¡¯t you introduce your friends and family to me and we can get that sorted before I set-up for my stay.¡±

    ¡°Your stay?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right! I¡¯m staying around for a few days to help you with setting up your business. You think all I do in the pokemon center is tend to the pokemon? I know how businesses work! Also, extended vacations are never a bad thing.¡± She gave him a sly grin, obviously using the excuse of helping him to take a nice vacation.

    Ethan held Shuckle in his arms as he stood up from the floor. ¡°Let me show you around. While I have only caught a few pokemon, there are many who call my ranch home. First, let¡¯s meet the Oddish and Gloom.¡±

    Ethan led Nurse Joy outside his home and onto his patio. He walked to the edge and pointed down toward the thick and lush leafy hedge right below. The Oddish and the singular Gloom. The Oddish were asleep, and Gloom was resting at this point in time. Nurse Joy looked down at them and nodded. ¡°Healthy as can be. This is a great environment for them, and they have made this their home. I don¡¯t want to treat you as a child, but do be careful around wild pokemon Ethan. They can kill you. Oddish, especially so.¡±

    Ethan waved her worries away. ¡°I could go and wake up those Oddish right now and nothing would come of it. They might not be in a pokeball, but we¡¯re part of a family. I don¡¯t know if you heard, but they planted a bunch of seeds off in the meadow over there. Around fifty of them! They¡¯re going to be baby Oddish all about sooner or later.¡±

    Chansey waddled over and looked down as well, then the big pink pokemon tapped Nurse Joy on the hip and pointed toward the berry field. ¡°Ethan, can Chansey explore your ranch? Maybe have some berries?¡±

    Without any hesitation, Ethan gestured toward the berry trees. ¡°By all means. If you have any other pokemon, feel free to let them out to explore. I just ask that they be nice to all the pokemon out and about. No battling, unless it¡¯s mutual for training.¡±

    Joyce took off Chansey little nurse¡¯s cap, then waved the pokemon off to wander about. As Chansey waddled over to the berries, Joyce spoke softly, a fondness in her voice. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve seen such a natural grove. You¡¯ve done a great job here. Also, I¡¯ll take you up on your offer. Everyone! Come on out!¡±

    Nurse Joy flipped open her brown jacket and simultaneously flicked out three pokeballs. The first, and smallest of the bunch, was a pokemon Ethan wasn¡¯t familiar with. It was a small pokemon with a white upper body, two white pigtail-like ears, and two long, swampy green eyebrows. It hugged a beautiful blue flower by its stem as it floated along in the air, twirling as it inspected its surroundings. ¡°Floette!¡±

    The second pokemon was one he was familiar with, also a pokemon he kind of expected a Nurse Joy to have. The three foot tall pink Clefable flapped its two stubbly arms around in excitement as its small swirl of hair bobbed in with the movement. The Clefable''s crystal clear blue eyes were breathtaking, catching him by surprise. The pokemon gave him a hurried nod of acknowledgement before jumping off his patio, causing it''s back wing-like appendages to flap as it chased after Chansey, who slowed down to let her friend catch up.

    The last pokemon was a pokemon that every single person on Earth knew about, and Nuse Joy knew it. She snickered as she covered her mouth, watching as Ethan¡¯s eyebrows rose sky high from seeing the most familiar pokemon.

    ¡°Pikachu!¡± The yellow electric mouse¡¯s ears twitched as tiny electrical sparks jolted off its small red circled cheeks, and its zig-zagging tail ended in a heart shape, indicating that this Pikachu was female.

    The Pikachu let out a high pitch squeal as it yawned, then ran over and climbed up Nurse Joy¡¯s leg to right itself on the top of her pink head.

    Ethan started with wide eyes and an open mouth at the poster child of pokemon¡ªwell, the pokemon he grew up with. Nurse Joy couldn¡¯t hold her laughter in any longer, and laughed aloud, causing some of the Oddish to twitch their leaves in annoyance.

    ¡°The look on your face! I knew this was going to be the best! Oh! I should have taken a picture and sent it to Cynthia!¡± Nurse Joy continued to laugh at his expense, but he didn¡¯t mind. He chuckled and waved at the small white and blue form sneaking through the Oddish to join him.

    ¡°I have a nice electric pokemon as well.¡±

    ¡°Pachi!¡± Pachirisu scrambled up onto the patio, barely jumping high enough to latch onto the side of the flooring. He pulled himself up, gave Nurse Joy a salute and a murmur of ¡°Pach!¡± Then climbed Ethan and took his rightful spot.

    Ethan walked over to stand next to Nurse Joy, bringing the two electric rodents next to one another. It was obvious that Pachirisu had never seen a Pikachu before, given his inquisitive look and tilting head. Pikachu on the other hand, had seen a Pachirisu before. She gave him a smile and a nod, then grabbed his fluffy cheeks, causing Pachirisu to cry out in alarm. Before anything could come from his plea, Pikachu rubbed her electrically charged red cheeks up against Pachirisu¡¯s yellow.

    Jolting surges of tingling electricity sparked off from the contact, and after a few seconds, Pikachu let go and went back to relaxing on Nurse Joy¡¯s head. Pachirisu blinked rapidly, dumbstruck by the action. After a second of silence, Ethan was about to prod his friend to get him to do¡­ well, anything. But, he was saved as Pachirisu¡¯s cheeks turned as red as Pikachu¡¯s. He instantly turned around, embarrassed, fleeing down Ethan¡¯s collar and into his shirt.

    ¡°Hey!¡± Ethan said in alarm, but Pachirisu was in full retreat. In the end, Pachirisu hid beneath Ethan¡¯s shirt and rested on Shuckle¡¯s shell. Shuckle looked confused at Pachirisu¡¯s actions, but Nurse Joy was dying from laughter.

    ¡°It looks like Pikachu¡¯s womanly charms were very effective.¡± She managed to utter out.

    ¡°Odd.¡±

    ¡°Odddddddd.¡±

    ¡°Odd-Odd.¡±

    ¡°Glooooooom¡­¡±

    Turning around, the Oddish the Gloom were giving Nurse Joy the stink eye, not appreciative of being awoken by her uproar of laughter. She sheepishly gave them a wave, as Ethan made a suggestion.

    ¡°Let¡¯s move on. There¡¯s a lot to see.¡±

 Chapter 37

    ¡°There¡¯s not a thought going on behind those eyes, is there?¡± Nurse Joy said kindly to the small blue and green pokemon held outwards in her arms. The Lotad¡¯s small nub legs flailed in happiness as it gurgled and gave a gummy smile.

    She placed the lily-pad pokemon down and rubbed its belly as it wiggled. ¡°It¡¯s alright, Ethan. All Lotads are like that. There¡¯s not too many pokemon who become much more cognizant when they evolve, but Lotad is one of them. They remember everything from when they were a Lotad as well. Treat this little guy as you would any of your other pokemon, and he¡¯ll be happy.¡±

    The Lotad stared at both Nurse Joy and himself at the same time, which was off putting. ¡°That¡¯s good news. I was worried.¡±

    Nurse Joy inspected his small pond with a critical eye, before nodding to herself. ¡°Looks great, but I would recommend having a sandy shore on one side to make exiting and entering easier for many pokemon. Right now, it¡¯s like hopping out of a pool. Never a fun time.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll note that down. Any recommendations or changes for the care of water pokemon? I¡¯ve been feeding them an assortment of berries, hoping that¡¯d be enough.¡± Ethan flicked an Oran outwards toward the extra grumpy Krabby who snipped at the juicy projectile angrily.

    ¡°Not really, no. Feebas are known to eat almost anything, so you¡¯re doing them a great service by providing them with real food. Magikarp are at the bottom of the food-chain as well. They normally feed on kelp, reeds, or other water vegetation. Both Marill and Krabby would be more than capable of finding their own food if what you offered wasn¡¯t enough. These are still wild pokemon, they don¡¯t specifically need you to live. If there is a will, there is a way. I¡¯d keep an eye on the amount of Feebas and Magikarp though. Krabbys are omnivorous.¡± Nurse Joy rattled off that information casually, seemingly having memorized at least the baseline information for all pokemon. An incredible feat for anyone.

    ¡°Pika?¡±

    Pikachu was dangling her lightning bolt shaped tail into the water like a slowpoke. The Magikarp, unaware of what the foreign object was, gently nibbled on her tail causing her to squeak and chitter in laughter.

    ¡°Piiiii!¡±

    Ethan slowly turned his head to the side, where Pachirisu sat on top of Shuckle, eyes zeroed in on the electric mouse with mouth agape in wonder. Shuckle didn¡¯t like water at all, so he was staying a good distance away from the pond lest he be accidentally splashed. His little berry boy was slightly confused, given how he twisted his head around and kept staring upwards at Pachirisu, who was acting very differently than he normally did. He was still putting the pieces together, and he hoped he didn¡¯t need to give the talk to one of his pokemon.

    Nurse Joy smiled at her Pikachu, then gazed around the meadow. ¡°You have a lot of space around here Ethan. I was a little worried about how the visions from your memory share translated into real life, but I think you have more than enough space for many pokemon. Do you have any other habitats? A rocky field, cave, jungle, things like that?¡±

    Ethan shook his head as he handed Nurse Joy some berries to toss into the water to feed the pokemon. ¡°Not yet, but I have been thinking about that. Since I have some eggs now, I¡¯ve done some research about how they develop. It¡¯d be nice to have multiple different habitats for them to grow more comfortably. Right now, I think only freshwater water pokemon, normal types, and grass types would do well here.¡±

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s not just about the types Ethan, it¡¯s about the pokemon themselves. Swampert is a good example. While it¡¯s a freshwater water type, it enjoys thick mud and would be a little large to be a comfortable resident of your pond. One would be fine, but any more than that and they¡¯d be cramped. Normal flying types like Starly or Pidgey would love your ranch as well, but a Skarmory wouldn¡¯t have a pleasant time. You¡¯re never going to be able to fit the needs of every single pokemon you encounter, but it¡¯s good to have a wide spread of habitats so that the pokemon can find one they¡¯re most comfortable in, even though it may not be exactly what they¡¯re looking for.¡±

    Ethan nodded along, soaking in the knowledge Nurse Joy provided. ¡°My Shuckle and Dunsparce here have dug a little burrow for themselves. Do you think other pokemon are capable of creating sections that will suit their needs? A rocky plateau or heated mountainous mound? I wouldn¡¯t even know where to begin creating one of those for them.¡±

    Nurse Joy teetered her hand as they began to walk off into the meadow. Pikachu gave the fish pokemon a final bat with her tail before she followed after, climbing Nurse Joy to rest atop her pink hair. Pachirisu, seeing his interest scatter along, followed suit and climbed Ethan to rest on his shoulder. Shuckle could follow on the ground by himself, but he was very slow. Trudging his shell around took some effort¡ªnot that he¡¯d ever seen his berry bud winded from casual movement. He knelt down as Pachirisu took his spot and heaved his heavy friend into his arms, earning him tiny noodle wiggles of happiness. Dunsparce waited for them to walk off a good distance, before springing himself into the air. Once he was a solid ten feet above ground, he flapped with pearly white wings and glided forward to catch up.

    Ethan led Nurse Joy to the area where the baby Oddish were planted, and explained the weird ritual the Oddish and Gloom did earlier in the week. Nurse Joy listened patiently, a smile growing on her face as he continued onwards. ¡°Oh! How wonderful! They¡¯ve taken a liking toward you and feel safe. Luckily for you, Oddish sustain themselves on moonlight. So, you won¡¯t be hurrying about trying to feed them all. I¡¯d still recommend giving them berries, but they can and will thrive off the light of the moon. When they sprout, give me a call and I¡¯ll see about stopping by to examine them. Now, I see you have six balls on your belt, but I¡¯ve only seen Shuckle and Pachirisu. Where¡¯s Chatot and the other three mystery pokemon?¡±

    Ethan and Joyce wandered back through the meadow toward Ethan¡¯s home, spotting Gogoat and Blitzle playing tag with one another. The giant goat jumped side to side as he sprinted along, narrowly dodging the smaller electric horse''s vibrant blinking horn. As the two quadrupedal pokemon passed them by, they slowed down, abandoning their game. Gogoat shifted his eyes to Blitzle, who gave him a reassuring nod.

    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

    Ethan paused and turned to face the now approaching grassy goat. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±

    Gogoat jerked his head toward the side, then trotted along in the same direction. Ethan shared a look with Nurse Joy, who shrugged, then followed after. They didn¡¯t walk too far, around a hundred meters away, where Gogoat and Blitzle had made their tiny home¡ªwhich was really just patted down grass. Gogoat walked forward and rummaged around in the grass with his head, then turned to face Ethan with an awkward smile.

    When Ethan caught up and saw what had been uncovered, he gave the grassy goat a look filled with mirth. ¡°Having a really fun time on my ranch I see? Not just learning some moves are you?¡±

    Blitzle laughed as she galloped about in a circle around them. Gogoat was embarrassed and kicked the ground, but he still had a lopsided grin. ¡°I assume you want me to take care of this with the others?¡±

    Both pokemon nodded, and Blitzle nudged the basketball sized pokemon egg toward him. He could hear Nurse Joy¡¯s squeal of excitement as he gently placed Shuckle down and swapped him for the grassy coated egg. Without turning around, he asked Nurse Joy for her expertise. ¡°I assume this grassy shelled egg is a good indication on which pokemon will be hatched? I doubt it¡¯s going to be another Blitzle given the marking and hoofprints.¡±

    Nurse Joy knelt down and nuzzled her face into Blitzles face, gently rubbing her hand down its ridged mane. ¡°That¡¯s correct. That would be a Skiddo egg.¡±

    Ethan ran his fingers across the brown hoofprints and grassy leaves along the shell, unable to feel any indents or raised formations. They fit in seamlessly. ¡°A Skiddo? That¡¯s Gogoat¡¯s pre-evolved form?¡±

    Nurse Joy ended her scritches, then came and knelt alongside Ethan. ¡°That¡¯s correct. Here, I¡¯ll show you.¡±

    Ethan watched on as Nurse Joy pulled out a rectangular, red, black, and white piece of technology. On the back, a large ocular camera was situated. She flipped open the device like a notebook, then showed him the screen. On the top of the screen, the large bold words of ¡®PokeDex¡¯ were there for him to see.

    On the screen, a photo of a much smaller Gogoat looking pokemon, maybe mid thigh tall with much smaller horns, looked up with a smile at its parents¡ªTwo normal Gogoats.

    Skiddo - The Mount Pokemon: Skiddo is known for its friendly and docile nature, making it a popular choice for beginner trainers from the Kalos region. Its leafy fur harnesses the power of photosynthesis, allowing it to rejuvenate itself by basking in the sunlight. Skiddo is naturally surefooted, able to deftly traverse rocky terrains with ease. Like its evolved form Gogoat, when bonded with its trainer, Skiddo can sense their emotions through physical contact with its horns, strengthening their connection.

    Skiddo¡¯s ability to photosynthesize means it requires less food than other Pok¨¦mon its size, thriving on a diet of simple vegetation. In the wild, herds of Skiddo can be seen grazing in lush meadows, their presence often ensuring the health and growth of the local flora. During winter, Skiddo¡¯s leafy fur provides insulation, enabling it to withstand colder climates. Trainers often utilize Skiddo¡¯s gentle nature in therapeutic settings, where its calming presence has been known to soothe those in distress.

    Skiddo¡¯s milk is highly nutritious, enriched by its diet of fresh leaves, berries, and sunlight. It is a valuable resource in many rural areas, often used to make rich, creamy dairy products. The milk is said to have a slightly sweet taste, infused with the natural essence of the plants Skiddo consumes. Farmers treasure Skiddo not only for its companionship and utility but also for the bountiful, healthful milk it provides.

    To ensure Skiddo remains healthy and happy, provide ample sunlight for photosynthesis, as its leafy fur needs light to thrive. Regularly groom its fur to keep it free of debris and ensure it has access to fresh, leafy greens in its diet. Exercise is crucial for Skiddo, so allow it plenty of space to roam and climb, mimicking its natural habitat. Regular check-ups with a Pokemon Center or a knowledgeable Pokemon Breeder will help catch any health issues early. Additionally, maintaining a clean and comfortable living environment, with proper shelter during harsh weather, will ensure Skiddo stays in top condition.

    REF: A1, A2, A3, B7.

    Joy Clan - IND: 173, 174, 177, 198.

    That was a lot more information than his measly PocketDex app provided him. Nurse Joy could see his surprise, and was well aware that he didn¡¯t own a PokeDex. ¡°While the PokeDex is a valuable tool, most of this information can be found elsewhere. If this Skiddo is a female, then I think the milk it can provide will be a great boon to you and your ranch¡­ You¡¯re willing to consume pokemon products if they¡¯re not harmed, right?¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­ It¡¯s just the killing to eat that I¡¯m not willing to go through. Your Chansey gave me her egg that one time. Things like that I''ll be fine with¡­ Speaking of pokemon products, Shuckle can make berry juice. Do you have any insight regarding that? I wouldn¡¯t want to take his own food from him.¡±

    ¡°Shuuu!¡± Shuckle wiggled his arms and pulled himself forward, he wrapped one of his yellow noodles around Ethan¡¯s wrist, then gently tugged to bring it to the ground. He slapped his hand gently, getting it to open up, then once happy with Ethan¡¯s hand position, retreated into his shell. With only his legs exposed, Shuckle lifted the back half of his shell upward, causing his head hole to tilt into Ethan¡¯s palm. Not a moment later, a trickle of juice poured out from the hole, filling his hand.

    When finished, Shuckle lowered himself, popped out of his holes, then gave Ethan a big gummy, expectant smile.

    Seeing his berry buddy waiting for him to try his precious juice, Ethan couldn¡¯t say no. He raised his hand slowly, careful not to spill what little juice he had in his palm, then dumped the juice into his mouth.

    An explosion of flavor burst within his mouth, causing him to pucker his lips from the sickeningly sweet taste. The unassuming dark purple juice looked pretty bland, but it was so¡­ rich in flavor. It coated his mouth and the sweet taste remained and lingered for more than a minute before it finally began to fade.

    Nurse Joy cackled and had her phone held out, obviously taking pictures of his taste test. Shuckle nodded sagely with a knowing smile, well aware of how awesome and amazing his juice truly was. ¡°A little warning would have been nice!¡± Ethan said with mock anger, as he chuckled. He looked to Shuckle. ¡°You drink that every day? Do I have to worry about you having Diabetes?!¡±

    Shuckle blinked confusedly, causing his chuckle to turn into a full on laugh. When he calmed down, he patted his berry friend. ¡°Thanks for the taste, Shuckle. Maybe someday lots of people will come by to have a taste of what you make. Would you like that?¡±

    Shuckle nodded and wiggled his limbs. Sharing is caring, and his little bug liked making friends.

    Nurse Joy gently reached out and ran a hand along Shuckle¡¯s yellow ridges. ¡°When he¡¯s grown a bit more, he will start producing a lot more juice. Shuckles are rare, very timid and afraid, so their juice is a rarity. It¡¯d be a good source of income for you to help with supplying your ranch. There¡¯s some specialty items, like corks, that can help when the time comes. But, I think you have a few more months before Shuckle is ready for all of that.¡±

    ¡°Shuuu!¡±

 Chapter 38

    ¡°You okay up there, Chatot?¡± Ethan said with a raised voice as he and Nurse Joy listened to the faint ticking of the metronome atop his home.

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot! ?¡±

    ¡°You wanna come say hi to Nurse Joy?¡±

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot! ?¡±

    Ethan waited a few seconds, waiting for his tropical bird to fly on down for a greeting, but that moment never came. ¡°Was that a no?¡±

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot! ?¡±

    ¡°Hmm. Looks like that¡¯s a no.¡± Ethan mumbled as he turned to Nurse Joy with a shrug. ¡°She¡¯s been perfecting her nest up there. You¡¯ll see her later I suppose. Smeargle should be in the guest room watching over the other eggs.¡±

    Ethan held the door open for Nurse Joy, letting her enter his home first, then led her toward the guest room where Growlithe sat outside the door, dejected by having been banished from the room due to the zoomies.

    ¡°Groooooooooo.¡± Growlithe whined as he slumped against the hardwood floor, but his wagging tail gave away his true feelings.

    ¡°That¡¯s Growlithe, he¡¯s here for some tutoring. Now, he¡¯s waiting for his trainer to come pick him up¡ªSame situation as Gogoat. Speaking of¡­¡± Ethan held the basketball sized Skiddo egg outwards, showcasing the new egg to the saddened fire dog, perking him right up. ¡°You can watch over this one, right?¡±

    ¡°Gro! Gro!¡± Growlithe nodded enthusiastically, then scampered over to the living room¡¯s couch and patted the cushions, ordering Ethan to place the new egg next to him. Ethan did so, much to the amusement of Nurse Joy, then gave Growlithe a rub behind the ears.

    After making sure Growlithe was happy with the egg''s placement, Ethan knocked on the guest room door, waited a second, then opened it, revealing Smeargle painting on his easel while facing the two eggs. He had his arm outreached, thumb up, and tongue out as he gauged the distance for his artwork.

    Nurse Joy brushed past Ethan as she hastily made her way to see what Smeargle was painting with a large smile on her face, Pikachu bounced atop her head letting out a nearly inaudible ¡°Pika-Pika-Pika-Pika-Pi¡± as she bobbed up and down in accordance to the movement. When Nurse Joy saw what was being painted, she fanned her face as he nearly burst from excitement. ¡°Oh! You¡¯re so talented! I haven¡¯t seen a Smeargle in years! Always a joy to meet.¡±

    Smeargle rubbed his nose with his orange-tipped tail still in hand, embarrassed but taking the well deserved praise. ¡°Where did you find a Smeargle? They aren¡¯t native to Sinnoh.¡± She asked Ethan as she continued to admire the colorful painting of the two pokemon eggs.

    Ethan shared a look with the painter pokemon, but Smeargle didn¡¯t seem to mind the assumption that Smeargle was his pokemon. ¡°I didn¡¯t find him, he found me¡ªwith his old trainer. They separated as amicably as could be. But, Smeargle is staying around until he finds out what he wants to do. Even if that means staying here forever and joining me..¡±

    Smeargle paused in his brush stroke for only a fraction of a second, but continued onwards without any further reactions. They hadn¡¯t had a lot of time together, but Ethan was more than willing to have Smeargle be a part of his family. For one, the painter pokemon could help out a lot around the ranch, and given Ethan¡¯s goal to be a move tutor as well as a breeder, having a pokemon that could learn nearly every single move in the world sounded like a good idea. Smeargle was also a kind, caring, and conscientious pokemon. He didn¡¯t cause trouble, he was helpful and hard working¡­ There was no reason for Ethan to not want Smeargle to join him. He just needed to find out how Smeargle felt. Maybe it was still a little too soon.

    ¡°He¡¯s got the greatball on my belt. Not mine per se, but under my watch. Smeargle, how about you show Nurse Joy the eggs and have her do a quick checkup? If that¡¯s something you¡¯re capable of? I don¡¯t know how often you work with eggs.¡± Ethan said as he took a seat on the side of the bed.

    Nurse Joy waved away his concerns as she strutted forward alongside Smeargle who didn¡¯t really know what to do. He pointed at the eggs with his tail, then shrugged.

    Nurse Joy picked up the egg with streaks of lightning. She turned it over in her hands and held it up to her ear, causing Pikachu to stick her head down and listen in as well. She slid her eyes toward Ethan with a grin. ¡°Do you know what pokemon are in these eggs?¡±

    ¡°Nope!¡± Ethan said with a popping P. ¡°Leaving it as a surprise. Can you at least tell me if they¡¯ll be happy at my ranch? The environment and all that?¡±

    Nurse Joy swapped the lightning egg for the egg with pink stars and did the same process as she talked. ¡°That egg should hatch any day now, and it will be more than happy around here. Especially because of its trainer. You¡¯ll love it.¡±

    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    The grin faded from Nurse Joy¡¯s face as she concentrated and furrowed her brows when listening to the star egg. She inspected the outside shell once more, finding the pink stars and silver streaks. ¡°I have a guess as to what this pokemon is, but I''m not sure. If my guess is correct, then it should be okay on the ranch. You¡¯d need to go buy some supplies, but that¡¯s about it.¡± She looked at Smeargle and pointed at him. ¡°It¡¯ll be like Smeargle¡ªhow he needs paints and art supplies. This pokemon would need something similar, but different all the same.¡±

    She placed the egg down and rubbed her chin as she thought deeply. ¡°If my guess is correct, you don¡¯t know this pokemon. That much, I¡¯m certain of. It¡¯ll be another week before I could give you a time frame on when it should hatch, but I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be here by then.¡±

    While to many, having a pokemon egg with a completely unknown pokemon would be worrisome or maybe even exciting. For Ethan, this was pretty much par for the course. If he remembered correctly, there were over a thousand different pokemon in the PokeDex¡­ and Ethan could name maybe a third of them. This was par for the course.

    The only thing that bothered him was the worry about caring for it. If the pokemon would be happy here. As he opened his mouth to voice his concerns, Nurse Joy spoke first, as if she read his mind. ¡°Every pokemon cared for tells a story of joy and friendship. The bond between a pokemon and its trainer¡­ It is truly special; it''s the secret to their happiness and health. You care, they¡¯ll be happy. A handful, but happy.¡±

    Ethan soaked in that bit of information as he sat on the corner of the bed.

    ¡°Shuuu?¡±

    Looking down to his lap, Ethan looked at Shuckle to stared at him with curiosity. He stroked Shuckle¡¯s head, earning him a gummy smile as he spoke. ¡°I¡¯m okay, Shuckle. Hey, why don¡¯t you go gather some berries for all of us to enjoy?¡±

    ¡°Shu!¡±

    Ethan placed Shuckle onto the hardwood floor and watched as his berry buddy trudged along on his mission. Nurse Joy cooed from the other side of the room, and even Pikachu let out a high pitched ¡°Pii!¡± as her heart melted. Seeing the unevolved form of a stone evolution caused a sudden thought to pop into his mind. ¡°Weird question, but how do stone evolutions work here? I¡¯m going to have a lot of Gloom sooner or later, and I thought that I could offer them a Leaf or Sun Stone for their help later on down the line.¡±

    Joyce turned her eyes upward, staring at the yellow mouse atop her head. ¡°Evolution stones are a thing here like from your memory, but they work a little differently. For one, if I remember correctly, they were an on touch thing from your games?¡± Ethan nodded, and Joyce continued. ¡°That¡¯s not the case here. No accidental evolutions. The pokemon have to want it while in contact. Also, the purity of the stone in question matters. The more pure the stone, the more uses. You could find a green shard, a sliver of a leaf stone, and it would work for one use. You also don¡¯t need a stone. They¡¯re just the easiest way. Environment plays a large factor as well. Although, most of those locations are under heavy watch by the league, especially after the whole Team Galactic business.¡±

    Ethan nodded along then got up from the bed. ¡°Well, Smeargle and Growlith have been using this guest room, but we can find anoth¡ª¡±

    ¡°Oh, they can stay! We¡¯ll have a little sleepover.¡± Nurse Joy patted Smeargle¡¯s beret as she walked past him and out of the room, ending the discussion then and there.

    As Ethan sat there a little shocked, Nurse Joy¡¯s voice traveled through his home. ¡°Let¡¯s go find your other two mystery pokemon, then we¡¯ll start setting up your new business space.¡±

    Walking out of the room with thinned lips, Ethan took a deep breath preparing himself for this awkward conversion¡ªthe one about the Teddiursa. Nurse Joy was rummaging through the large Silph Co bag as Ethan crossed his arms and fidgeted. Without looking up from the bag, Nurse Joy could feel the awkwardness of the room. ¡°Ethan¡­¡±

    ¡°Okay, so, in my defense¡ª¡±

    ¡°Ethan, if you even have to say that you know you¡¯re in the wrong. What did you do?¡± Nurse Joy stopped digging through the bag and flicked her head up to stare Ethan down. Pikachu, picking up on the weird atmosphere, immediately glared at Ethan and sent tiny shocks of electricity out of her cheeks.

    ¡°So¡­ I might have caught those two Teddiursa.¡±

    Ethan stood there and waited for Nurse Joy to respond, but she was just glaring at him. She waved him on. ¡°And?¡±

    ¡°And I might have sent them out with their mom into the forest.¡±

    ¡°.... And?¡± Joyce said, tone growing confused.

    ¡°What do you mean ¡®and¡¯? That¡¯s it. I caught them so that nobody else could. They were endangering themselves just by visiting. Now, nobody can catch them because they¡¯ve been caught. It¡¯s just¡­ I¡¯m not planning on having them be ¡®mine¡¯.¡± Ethan finished with air quotes and waited for Nurse Joy to dish out some punishment.

    ¡°You realize that if they do anything bad that their actions will be your fault, right?¡± Joyce narrowed her eyes, but her tone was understanding¡ªtense, but understanding.

    ¡°I understand. Ursaring asked me too. Someone tried to catch her children as soon as I opened for tutoring. It was¡­ a disaster. I told them that they¡¯d need to be checked in and registered with me, so that¡¯s still going to happen!¡±

    Nurse Joy rubbed her forehead, jostling Pikachu about. ¡°Ethan¡­ This is a gray zone. That¡¯s not something people do. If someone I didn¡¯t know told me this, It¡¯d be a case of abandonment. There¡¯s proper release laws for a reason.¡±

    Ethan shook his head. ¡°I didn¡¯t release them. They¡¯re still technically mine. They¡¯re just with their family in the surrounding wilderness¡­ until further notice.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m still going to see them before I leave. If they don¡¯t come to us, we¡¯re going to them. In my official capacity as a league sanctioned pokemon nurse, I can register them for you when I get back. I¡¯ll need to use the healing machine to gather readings, though¡­¡± Nurse Joy¡¯s gaze softened. ¡°I would have done the same thing, Ethan. Teddiursa are one of the most poached pokemon in the world. Remember, they can still be stolen, but they can¡¯t be captured. They will still be in danger.¡±

    Ethan nodded seriously, but tried to defend himself anyways. ¡°Ursaring will put a stop to anybody trying. She nearly Hyperbeamed the young woman who tried to catch them. I think it¡¯s better this way for everyone.¡±

    Nurse Joy stood and took a seat at the kitchen table, she reached up and grabbed Pikachu off her head and placed her down onto the ground to wander about. ¡°Walk me through everything that happened¡­¡±

 Chapter 39

    ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Nurse Joy murmured as she knelt down on the grassy ground, inspecting the remains of the shattered pokeball Ethan had completely forgotten to clean up in his anger. She picked up a few of the bits and pieces, holding them up into the air as she inspected them with a critical eye.

    ¡°Who broke the pokeball?¡± She asked.

    Ethan shrugged as he did his best to pick up all of the small metallic pieces lingering in the grass¡ªa safety hazard if he ever saw one. ¡°I didn¡¯t see it personally, but my assumption was that it was Ursaring. Why?¡±

    Nurse Joy placed the small piece she held up back into the small pile they made, then stood and patted her knees to rid them of any dirt. Her confused frown and narrowed eyes made Ethan shift uncomfortably. ¡°I¡¯m no Jenny, but that pokeball was smashed with force. If it was Ursaring, then I have many questions to ask the nearby rangers. If everything was as you said¡ªand I have no reason to not believe you, then Ursaring should have been the one captured. She would have been sucked in¡ªobviously breaking free¡­ but that didn¡¯t happen. When a pokemon breaks free from a failed capture, the pokeball is snapped in half. This¡­¡± She waved a hand toward the pile of technology. ¡°Was not snapped in half.¡±

    Ethan looked off into the nearby surrounding forest as he replied. ¡°What are you saying?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m saying either Ursaring wasn¡¯t the one to stop the pokeball, or that she¡¯s not catchable. If she¡¯s not catchable, that means she¡¯s been caught. While it¡¯s not unheard of for rangers to relocate powerful, trained pokemon, it¡¯s not something usually done for an alpha of the area. Trained pokemon would dominate their surroundings, and Ursarings don¡¯t need that kind of help.¡± Nurse Joy huffed in annoyance, then turned to face Ethan fully. ¡°When they come by, come get me if I am not near. I want to see her reaction to me.¡±

    Bringing Nurse Joy around an Ursaring and her cubs, catchable or not, wasn¡¯t a very safe sounding idea. Although Ethan wasn¡¯t an expert like Nurse Joy when it came to pokemon, he felt he needed to do his due diligence and warn her of the danger. ¡°Are you sure that¡¯s a good idea, Joyce? Last time she saw some unknown humans, it didn¡¯t end too well.¡±

    Nurse Joy patted her empty pokeballs and gave a confident nod. ¡°I am no stranger to unruly pokemon, Ethan. Also, I have a feeling that things will go differently than you expect.¡±

    Not seeing the need to pry, as Joyce was capable of making her own decisions, Ethan cleaned up the remains of the shattered pokeball as Nurse Joy walked through his lines of berry trees, finding her Floette and Clefable roaming about.

    He watched their interactions as he idly cleaned up and wondered what she truly thought about him. He was well aware of how weird and different he was when it came to the world of pokemon. For one, him being a vegan wasn¡¯t the standard. She seemed more than okay with that, but he also lived alone in the middle of an enormous, dark forest. He was the equivalent to a country bumpkin, all things considered. He lived off the land, didn¡¯t know much about the outside world or the pokemon that call this world their home. He didn¡¯t know anything about battling, and he was just trying his best to do the things he wanted¡ªlike tutoring and breeding.

    Maybe he was being self-conscious, but he felt like he was leaning on her knowledge base a little too much. Not just her either, Cynthia and Looker as well. He knew asking for help was okay, but there was still a point where asking for help became a bother, and he didn¡¯t want to seem like a bother.

    For now, he¡¯d ask about her and her pokemon. He¡¯d lasted this long without in-depth help, he can last a while longer as he played host for his important guest.

    A droplet of water hitting his nose jerked him out of his thoughts. Looking upwards, the clear blue sky and large cumulonimbus clouds let Ethan know that the Oddish or Gloom were dancing away. ¡°Joyce!¡± He yelled out, catching her and her pokemons attention. ¡°It¡¯s about to rain, let¡¯s get back to my home and I¡¯ll show you something wonderful.¡±

    ¡ª---------------------------

    Ethan and Joyce sipped from freshly squeezed Sitris berry juice as they looked out the window of his kitchen. The sound of gently pattering rain and the faint ticking of the metronome atop his home were the perfect, calming ambient noise for their watchparty.

    Outside in the gentle drizzle, one Gloom and seven Oddish twirled and danced to their heart''s content.

    The normally hidden and camouflaged Oddish were on full display. Their round blue bodies and vibrantly green leaves rustled in the wind and shook as raindrops landed upon their surface. Their uniform colors were in stark contrast to the singular Gloom''s much darker body, larger stature, and orange and red leaves and bulbs.

    The Oddish¡¯s movements were light and joyous, if a little carefree, most likely due to their interrupted sleep. Gloom''s dance was more grounded and deliberate, taking center stage as it released a bright pink plume of Sweet Scent upon completing a full rotation of its Rain Dance. Even from inside his home, Ethan, Joyce, and all the pokemon alongside them, could smell the sweet fragrance mixed with the scent of rain.

    As the rain picked up from the faint drizzle to a downpour, one could make out the circular impacts of the raindrops smacking into the now soggy ground, kissing the earth. The twirling plants picking up in the intensity, before suddenly coming to a stop.

    Ethan nudged Joyce with his elbow, not taking his eyes off the finish of the mesmerizing dance. He tilted his head toward them as Joyce¡¯s eyes tore away from them, latching onto him. ¡°I taught them that. That took a long time.¡±

    The smile on Nurse Joy¡¯s face was enough of a reward for those long, long sessions of trying to teach the move when he was alone and lost. He took a sip from his glass before continuing on. ¡°They love to dance. That¡¯s why I was asking about the stones¡­ Speaking of stones, Pachirisu, where did you put that rock? The one you found before Gardevoir came?¡±

    Turning around, Ethan saw his slack jawed electric rodent staring with starry eyes at Pikachu as she nibbled on an Oran berry. He walked over and waved his hand in front of Pachirisu¡¯s face, knocking him out of his stupor. ¡°The rock, buddy.¡±

    ¡°Pa--Pach!¡± With a choking unconfident reply, Pachirisu zoomed into Ethan¡¯s room, soon returning with the weird stone he had found the other day. ¡°Thanks.¡± He grabbed the stone from Pachirisu and whispered to his friend as he bent over. ¡°Go over and talk to her. Make your move.¡±

    ¡°Pach!?¡±

    Ethan put his foot behind Pachirisu, then slid his nervous rodent over toward the mouse which drew his fancy. ¡°Thank me later.¡±

    Ethan left the two electric pokemon alone as he walked over toward Nurse Joy and held out the stone they¡¯d found the other day. ¡°Any idea what this is?¡±

    It only took a singular glance for Nurse Joy to nod. ¡°A Hard Stone. Uncommon, but nothing special. Did you find it?¡± She took hold of the stone and admired it briefly.

    ¡°Pachirisu did. He found a weird root too. It looks like ginger.¡± Ethan said as he grabbed the nearby pitcher and refilled their cups, not forgetting to refill Chansey¡¯s as well.

    ¡°Brown, weird dangly bits?¡± Nurse Joy asked.

    Stolen story; please report.

    ¡°Yup.¡±

    ¡°Energy Root. You¡¯d find a lot of those around here. Pachirisu found that as well?¡± She asked, almost as if she knew the answer already.

    ¡°That¡¯s correct. One of the Teddiursa got one for me as well. You know something?¡±

    Nurse Joy gave a thankful nod as Ethan refilled her cup. ¡°Pick-Up. Pachirisu has Pick-Up as an ability. He¡¯ll find things from time to time, a sixth sense for treasure. Teddiursa might have the ability as well, by the sounds of it. When we get your business space set-up, you can research some more information about it. Energy Roots will be nice to have on hand.¡±

    Ethan stole a glance at his floundering and blubbering white and blue rodent as he tried his best to make small talk with the bright yellow mouse. Pikachu scooted over and got closer to Pachirisu, causing his nervous friend to scoot further away. In the end, Pikachu shoved the rest of her Oran into Pachirisu¡¯s mouth, shocking him still, then coseyed up against Pachirisu¡¯s tail.

    ¡°Oi, your Pikachu is a flirt.¡± Ethan snorted as Nurse Joy laughed. Ethan raised an eyebrow, catching Pikachu¡¯s attention as she gazed up at him, using Pachirisu¡¯s tail as a pillow. ¡°Don¡¯t go breaking Pachirisu¡¯s heart.¡± Pikachu smirked and gave him a wink, making him wonder what the hell Nurse Joy had been teaching her pokemon.

    ¡°Pa! Pachi-pach-pach!¡± Pachirisu blubbered and visibly cringed. He waved Ethan away, embarrassed by Ethan being a protective dad. His repeated ¡°Pa!¡± added to the effect.

    ¡ª----------------------------------------

    A few hours later, Ethan sat down and looked over his new ¡®office¡¯ set-up. It was, to say the least, not professional. Hooking up the antenna on the roof and getting it in line with the solar panels to get internet wasn¡¯t too bad, as everything blended in seamlessly, but his ¡®work station¡¯ consisted of a laptop and a small printer.

    Nurse Joy sat next to him, finishing the meal he had made for her just a few minutes prior. She munched on a mouthful of steamed vegetables and rice as she pointed her chopsticks toward the screen, directing him where to go. ¡°Click dat, ish good starting pont.¡±

    ¡°Chew, Joyce.¡± Ethan said as he followed along with her instructions.

    After another thirty minutes of soaking in business information and bothering Looker with a handful of texts and one phone call, Ethan got all of his information in order and was staring at a very bland page. A page that would become his website. Sadly, there wasn¡¯t the equivalent of Squarespace here in the world of pokemon. He slid his gaze toward Nurse Joy, who was sitting there waiting for him to start ¡®creating¡¯ his website. After an awkward staredown, lasting a few seconds, Ethan caved. ¡°I have no idea what the hell I¡¯m doing.¡±

    ¡°Well, it sounds like you¡¯re about to hire someone to make a website. I can¡¯t help you there. But, I can help with contracts though.¡± Nurse Joy scooted her chair over and turned the laptop towards her as she brought up a simple blank document and began filling in the page at a blistering pace. After a few minutes of Ethan watching in wonder, she flipped the laptop towards him with a confident grin. ¡°That should be good for starters, but i¡¯m sure you have plenty to add on.¡±

    Ethan read through the very formal sounding contract, which covered most of the liability issues and other corners that Ethan would have cut or not thought of. Ethan spent a few minutes going through the contact, editing, removing, and adding several different clauses and conditions.

    In the end, he was happy with his new Berry Falls Tutoring Agreement. He¡¯d have to make two more for breeding and daycare, but this was a great first step.

    Berry Falls Tutoring Agreement

    Trainer¡¯s Name: [Trainer''s Full Name] Address: [Trainer''s Address]

    AND

    Tutoring Ranch: Berry Falls Ranch.

    WHEREAS, the Trainer desires to have their pokemon tutored and trained at the Berry Falls Tutoring Ranch (the ¡°Ranch¡±), and the Ranch agrees to provide such tutoring services in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth herein.

    NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

    1. Services Provided

    The Ranch agrees to provide tutoring and training services to the following pokemon (collectively referred to as the ¡°pokemon¡±):

    <ul>

    <li style="font-weight: 400">Pokemon 1: [Name, Species]</li>

    <li style="font-weight: 400">Pokemon 2: [Name, Species]</li>

    <li style="font-weight: 400">Pokemon 3: [Name, Species]</li>

    <li style="font-weight: 400">[Additional Pokemon as needed]</li>

    </ul>

    2. Duration

    The tutoring services shall commence on _________,  and shall continue until _________, unless terminated earlier in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

    3. Fees and Payment

    The Trainer agrees to pay the Ranch the total sum of [Total Amount] for the services provided under this Agreement. Payment shall be made as follows:

    <ul>

    <li style="font-weight: 400">Initial Deposit: [Amount] due on _________, </li>

    <li style="font-weight: 400">Balance: [Amount] due on _________, </li>

    </ul>

    4. Responsibilities of the Trainer

    The Trainer agrees to:

    <ul>

    <li style="font-weight: 400">Provide all necessary information regarding the pokemon¡¯s health, training history, and specific needs. (For Carnivorous pokemon, please refer to Section 6.)</li>

    <li style="font-weight: 400">Ensure the pokemon are delivered to the Ranch at the agreed-upon times.</li>

    <li style="font-weight: 400">Pay all fees as specified in Section 3 of this Agreement.</li>

    </ul>

    5. Responsibilities of the Ranch

    The Ranch agrees to:

    <ul>

    <li style="font-weight: 400">Provide tutoring and training services to the pokemon.</li>

    <li style="font-weight: 400">Ensure the safety and well-being of the pokemon during their stay.</li>

    <li style="font-weight: 400">Communicate regularly with the Trainer regarding the pokemon¡¯s progress.</li>

    </ul>

    6. Terms and Conditions

    The following terms and conditions shall apply to the services provided under this Agreement:

    <ul>

    <li style="font-weight: 400">Health and Safety: The Ranch will take all necessary precautions to ensure the pokemon¡¯s health and safety. However, the Trainer acknowledges that certain risks are inherent in pokemon training.</li>

    <li style="font-weight: 400">Medical Care: In the event of illness or injury, the Ranch is authorized to seek healthcare for the pokemon. The Trainer agrees to reimburse the Ranch for any healthcare expenses incurred.</li>

    <li style="font-weight: 400">Behavioral Issues: The Ranch reserves the right to terminate this Agreement if the pokemon exhibits behavior that is deemed dangerous or unmanageable.</li>

    <li style="font-weight: 400">No Poaching: The Ranch enforces a strict no-poaching policy. Any Trainer or visitor found engaging in poaching activities will be immediately expelled from the premises by force, and legal action will be pursued. (Minimum fine of 5 Million Pokedollars.)</li>

    <li style="font-weight: 400">Trainer Accommodation: Trainers have the option to stay on the Ranch for the duration of their pokemon¡¯s tutoring. Accommodation arrangements must be made in advance, and additional fees may apply.</li>

    <li style="font-weight: 400">Cancellation: The Trainer may cancel this Agreement with 5 days'' written notice. Any fees paid are non-refundable unless otherwise specified.</li>

    <li style="font-weight: 400">Liability: The Ranch shall not be held liable for any loss, damage, or injury to the pokemon except in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct.</li>

    <li style="font-weight: 400">Pok¨¦mon Eggs: If any pokemon under the care of the Ranch produces an egg, the Trainer will be given the option to leave the egg in the Ranch¡¯s care. Should the Trainer choose to do so, a 50% discount will be applied to the total tutoring service fees. This discount will be applied at the conclusion of the tutoring period.</li>

    <li style="font-weight: 400">Carnivorous Pok¨¦mon: Any carnivorous pokemon being tutored at the Ranch is strictly prohibited from eating or feeding on any pokemon on the Ranch premises. These pokemon may hunt in the surrounding forests if desired. If the Trainer does not wish for their pokemon to hunt, they must provide sufficient and suitable food for their pokemon for the duration of their stay.</li>

    </ul>

    7. Governing Law

    This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Sinnoh Pokemon League.

    8. Entire Agreement

    This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes all prior negotiations, representations, or agreements, whether written or oral.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

    <hr>

    [Trainer¡¯s Full Name]

    Trainer

    <hr>

    Ethan Reed,

    Berry Falls Tutoring Ranch.

 Chapter 40

    After finding someone online who was willing to accept a two-hundred thousand pokedollar payment to create him a website, finishing the other two contracts; for breeding and for daycare, and collecting all of his pokemon, any of Joyce¡¯s who wanted to join for what he had in store, and some of the wild pokemon who wandered over to see what was up, Ethan had started his true first training session to prepare his pokemon for what was in store.

    Out in the training field, Ethan stood with Joyce as he called out orders to both his pokemon, her pokemon, an Oddish, Gloom, Gogoat, Growlithe, Blitzle, Dunsparce, and both Marils, who were lined up in front of them in three disorganized rows. The only pokemon who wasn¡¯t wild that didn¡¯t join was Smeargle, who was on egg duty, which he was taking very seriously.

    Joyce was cackling, clutching her stomach in pain from sore muscles earned from said cackling, and generally not helping out with the whole training regime Ethan had spent a solid five minutes thinking about.

    ¡°Slide to the left!¡± Ethan shouted.

    ¡°? Tot! ?¡±

    ¡°Slide to the right!¡±

    ¡°? Tot! ?¡±

    ¡°Crisscross!¡±

    ¡°? Tot! Tot! ?¡±

    ¡°Crisscross!¡±

    ¡°? Tot! Tot! ?¡±

    ¡°Cha-cha real smooth!¡±

    ¡°? Cha-Cha! Chatooot! ?¡±

    Ethan watched with a pleased smile as the wide assortment of pokemon in front of him broke into their own individual made up on the spot dances. Gogoat did a wiggle starting from his head, down to his tail. The Oddish and Gloom went back to their roots, doing a Rain Dance-like twirl, causing their leaves the rustle. Bliztle did happy hops side to side as she also spun in a circle, her mane sparkling with built up electricity, Shuckle flailed his limbs and he rocked his shell from side to side, having a lot more fun than he thought he would and Dunsparce followed his lead, attempting to do the same but with his wings flailing instead of limbs.

    Pachirisu was grabbed by Joyce¡¯s Pikachu, forced into being a dance partner as she hopped up and down happily. Chansey calmly and gently bounced side to side, Floette floated as she spun in circles, and Wigglytuff dropped onto the ground and started to roll around. The two Marill grabbed each other''s hands as they bounced on their tails together¡ªreturning to their roots of Azurill.

    Growlithe, the ball of energy that he was, abandoned his spot and sprinted with the zoomies in a giant circle around the group. During the last ¡®Cha-cha real smooth¡¯ Growlithe was a little late when returning to his spot, so Ethan thought that he was trying to sprint as fast as possible in a race to circle them all three times before rushing back before the very serious, absolutely not-fun training could continue.

    And the pokemon who was most enjoying this training, Chatot, flared out her wings and did a shimmy from side to side, reminding Ethan of some of the weird mating dances of birds from Earth.

    Chatot was having an absolute blast, calling out her name and singing along to the commands.

    There were a few reasons Ethan chose this method of training. One, like his tutoring, he tried to make it a game that the pokemon would enjoy. Two, having his pokemon learn to take commands was one of the basics to battling. If your pokemon didn¡¯t listen to you, like Ash¡¯s Charizard from the anime, then they weren¡¯t ready to battle. And three, watching pokemon have fun was one of the best parts of being in the world of pokemon. For those that grew up surrounded by pokemon this might just seem silly, but for Ethan, these were the things that made this world special.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go to work!¡± Ethan yelled, ending the dancing. He gave them all a second or two to ready themselves, before he continued.

    ¡°To the left!¡±

    ¡°? Tot! ?¡±

    ¡°Take it back now y¡¯all. Right foot lets stomp!¡±

    ¡°? Tot! ?¡±

    ¡°Left foot lets stomp!¡±

    ¡°? Tot! ?¡±

    ¡°Two hops this time!¡±

    ¡°? Tot! Tot!?¡±

    ¡°Two hops!¡±

    ¡°? Tot! Tot!?¡±

    ¡°Slide to the right!¡±

    ¡°? Tot! ?¡±

    ¡°Five hops this time!¡±

    ¡°? Tot! Tot! Tot! Tot! Tot!?¡±

    ¡°Cha-cha real smooth!¡± As the pokemon went back into their dances, Ethan slid over to Joyce, who had tears in her eyes from either the stomach pain from being unable to stop laughing, or from the joy (Pun intended) of seeing the pokemon have fun during their training.

    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

    ¡°It may look silly, but you have to admit that this works. If I learned anything during my life, if you have fun while doing something, it makes learning easier.¡±

    ¡°Oh! I have no doubt that it will work, but this is pure gold. Please tell me you have other plans for training. I¡¯ll cancel work and come over if they aren¡¯t ready! At least record it for me!¡± Joyce stopped laughing, turning to face Ethan with a smile mixed with a pleading look.

    ¡°Alright everyone! Let¡¯s take a break! Go ahead and grab some water, some berries, whatever you need. We¡¯ll continue another time!¡±

    They¡¯d been training for only around ten minutes, but ten minutes of following orders and dancing sure worked up a sweat. All the pokemon broke off into pairs or small groups and chatted with one another as they wandered off to find some berries, grab a drink, or in the case of Chatot, fly over to her bird bath to bathe.

    Ethan took a seat onto the ground, not afraid of getting a little dirty as he¡¯d been way dirtier in the past. The rural life he¡¯d been living had caused him a great amount of freedom. Joyce had just calmed down and waved her pokemon off to have some fun. She took one look at Ethan sitting on the dirt, then shrugged and did the same.

    ¡°You have something great here Ethan.¡± She said as she brushed her pink hair behind her ear and watched the pokemon rush through the field of berry trees, aiming to find their favorites.

    ¡°I know. It¡¯s not as good as it could be, but I¡¯m working on it. Slowly but surely. I want this to be a place all pokemon can enjoy. Whether that be during their short stay here away from their trainers. I want this to be a place pokemon can come and live with me and help out in creating a safe haven. A lost pokemon, an old retired battler, a baby who knows nothing of the cruelty of life, all of them will have a place, and I will welcome them with open¡ªhopefully ready arms.¡± Ethan said, letting his thoughts flow freely, knowing that Nurse Joy wouldn¡¯t disparage his dreams.

    Joyce patted Ethan¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I hope you succeed.¡±

    ¡°I do too.¡±

    ¡ª--------------------------------------

    The next day, as Ethan was preparing breakfast for everyone, he heard the panicked, fearful shout of Shuckle from the cellar. Immediately, Ethan dropped what he was doing and hastily flipped open the wooden cover for the cellar, finding Shuckle¡ªwho was in his shell, Dunsparce , who pushed Shuckle out of the opening as he was blocking the entrance to defend him, and another, wild pokemon.

    Ethan couldn¡¯t make out the details of the mystery pokemon in his cellar, only that it wasn¡¯t small, roughly the size of Shuckle¡¯s den hole, and had a very dark blue fur coat. Ethan waited for the mystery pokemon to make any moves, hoping that it was either friendly or would scamper off and retreat at being caught, but the only sound that greeted him was a soft snore.

    Dunsparce, who had begun flapping his white wings in a threat display, tilted his head and cautiously slithered forward, inching closer and closer to the apparently slumbering pokemon. Dunsparce poked it with its tail, causing the slumbering pokemon to move a hand over to scratch the prodded part of its body in its sleep.

    Finding that the situation wasn¡¯t completely out of control, Ethan ran over to the counter, grabbed his phone, came back over to the cellar door, then used the phone''s flashlight to light up the interior.

    When he could finally see the mystery pokemon, Ethan was pretty sure he knew this pokemon. Its humanoid appearance, rotund and chubby body, and dark blue fur with patches of tan were pretty unique. Ethan snapped a photo, and used the PocketDex to confirm if this was what he thought it was. If so, this was a very rare pokemon, and one that would have probably found his ranch sooner rather than later.

    Munchlax - The Big Eater Pokemon: Munchlax is constantly on the hunt for food, storing anything edible it finds in its fur, often forgetting that it stored anything at all. Its enormous appetite drives it to eat nearly anything, often swallowing whole items without chewing. Despite its gluttonous nature, Munchlax can go for days without food by relying on its stored reserves. When it finds something particularly delicious, it savors every bite, showing surprising patience. Munchlax is known for its friendly and carefree demeanor, making it a beloved companion for many trainers.

    POKEMON LEAGUE ALERT: Munchlax is in the top 5 percentile of difficult to care for pokemon. If you are looking to capture a Munchlax, seek professional advice regarding the care of this pokemon. You should be prepared for the enormous amount of food required to sustain Munchlax and its eventual evolution into Snorlax. Munchlax alone can consume its weight in food daily, and this appetite only grows once it evolves. Munchlax can be overfed, and the signs of overfeeding are difficult to notice. While it''s essential to have a well-stocked supply of food to keep it healthy, happy, and satisfied. Planning and budgeting for its dietary needs is crucial for anyone considering raising this pokemon.

    Ethan lowered his phone and thinned his lips looking at the Munchlax who was currently enjoying a food coma. Scanning around the rest of the cellar showed that the claims of Munchlax eating it¡¯s weight in food wasn¡¯t unwarranted, as the shelves and wooden crates that had been filled to the brim were nearly empty. The little guy or gal had itself a feast. ¡°Dunsparce, let it be for now. Shuckle, it¡¯s not going to hurt you. It¡¯s sleeping. Do you want to go into your ball?¡±

    ¡°Shuuuuuu.¡± Shuckle whined, causing Ethan to sigh and return Shuckle into his pokeball. He looked to Dunsparce, who watched the sleeping pokemon with confusion. ¡°Watch over Munchlax for a minute, I have to wake up Nurse Joy. We need her expertise.¡±

    ¡°Dun-dun-duuuuun!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I know. I¡¯m dreading it too.¡±

    Ethan made his way to the guest room, where Nurse Joy, Smeargle, and Growlithe were staying, and knocked three times loudly. After some rustling, the door cracked open an inch, revealing Smeargle who gazed up at Ethan with sleepy eyes. ¡°Can you wake up, Joyce for me? It¡¯s important.¡±

    Smeargle looked back over his shoulder, then gave Ethan a slight nod before closing the door. After waiting a solid minute, The door hastily swung open, revealing a grumpy Nurse Joy. ¡°What in Arceus¡¯ name would you need me for at six in the morning.¡±

    Ethan gave her a deadpan stare, shrugged, and came out with it. ¡°There¡¯s a Munchlax in my cellar.¡±

    Nurse Joy gave Ethan what must have been an exact replica of the ¡®Blinking White Guy¡¯ meme from earth. She was caught so unaware by that statement, that her grumpiness faded away instantly. ¡°There¡¯s a what?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a Munchlax in my cellar. As you¡¯re the closest thing I can think of to a pokemon professional, and given the fact that you were about thirty feet away from me, I decided to call on your expertise. So, what do I do?¡± Ethan said, completely backtracking on his ¡®don¡¯t be a bother¡¯ question spree.

    Joyce, still in her pajamas, which were unsurprisingly bright pink, glided past him and speed walked straight to the cellars trapdoor. She grabbed Ethan¡¯s phone from the countertop and shined the light down into the cellar, then placed it back down on the counter without tearing her gaze away from the hole. ¡°There¡¯s a Munchlax in your cellar.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s correct¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s way too early for this. Wake me up in two¡ªthree hours.¡± Joyce turned, walked right by Ethan while rubbing her eyes, and closed the door to the guest room behind her.

    ¡°Well¡­ I guess I¡¯m on watch duty¡­¡±

 Chapter 41

    Lo and behold, Munchlax had woken up before Joyce deemed herself ready to function¡ªthe non morning person that she is. Ethan had gathered Chatot and Pachirisu just in case Munchlax wasn¡¯t as friendly and carefree as the PocketDex said they were, but thankfully, the information provided was accurate. The first thing the Munchlax did, other than scratch their belly and smack their lips together with a satisfied smile, was look around for breakfast.

    When Munchlax noticed the bright light from Ethan¡¯s phone and looked up to see what the annoying light was from, Munchlax met his eyes and gave him a sheepish, guilty grin and a little wave. It was at this point that it knew it¡¯d been caught in the act. First and foremost, Ethan laid down some ground rules. ¡°Firstly, I am disappointed that you snuck in here to feast on my storage of berries when there is a giant field of berry trees outside ripe for the picking. Secondly, you will not harm any of the pokemon here on my ranch. Is that understood, Munchlax?¡±

    Munchlax nervously looked over their shoulder to see Dunsparce flapping his wings aggressively, then back up to Ethan who had Chatot and Pachirisu on his shoulders. ¡°You¡¯re not in trouble, as all pokemon who come by my ranch are welcome to the berries I grow, but sneaking into my cellar and scaring my pokemon and myself wasn¡¯t necessary. So, do you acknowledge my rule?¡±

    With a quick nod and a simple ¡®Munch¡¯, Ethan had his answer.

    ¡°Allright, can you climb the ladder and come up here? I¡¯ll cook everyone some breakfast.¡±

    At the mention of cooking food, Munchlax scrambled to the nearby wooden ladder and climbed up at a shockingly fast pace. Once at the top, Munchlax scrambled onto the floor and looked around Ethan¡¯s home, finding Growlithe and Smeargle watching calmly from the dining table.

    Seeing the tiny bit of apprehension in Munchlax¡¯s face, Ethan talked aloud while he moved to prepare a huge portion of breakfast. Thankfully, Gloom and the Oddish made sure to keep all the nearby trees and his small farm of fruits and vegetables growing permanently. He¡¯d be okay to cook a nice meal for everyone, including Munchlax, but he¡¯d be low on supplies for his own needs. He couldn¡¯t do this everyday for Munchlax, if the pokemon decided to stay around, but he could at least make a nice meal one time. Hopefully, it would be something for the pokemon to remember him by if they decided to leave.

    ¡°This is my ranch. Lots of pokemon come by to have a fun time, be taught moves, or settle down. Nobody will hurt you here, as long as you don¡¯t hurt them.¡± The sound of Ethan¡¯s blender jolted Munchlax to alertness, and the pokemon watched as Ethan threw a bunch of Sitrus berries inside the machine, creating a colorful orange and yellow smoothie.

    ¡°Go ahead and say hello to everyone while I make breakfast. It¡¯ll be done soon.¡±

    Munchlax looked around at the pokemon surrounding them, then waddled over toward the kitchen table and hoisted itself up onto a chair, flailing its short, dark blue, and furry legs as it righted itself up on a seat. It looked to Smeargle, then copied the way he sat.

    ¡°Munch Munchlax.¡± Munchlax gave them a small wave as it sat and looked uncomfortable.

    ¡°Smeargle Smear.¡± Smeargle gave it a simple greeting and a nod, his tongue sticking out making him look pretty friendly.

    ¡°Gro!¡± and Growlithe wagged his butt excitedly as he stood on top of the table, a new playmate had arrived!

    Pachirisu and Chatot both abandoned his shoulder, joining the poke-chat around the table, and soon enough Munchlax¡¯s apprehension faded away. Pachirisu kept pointing to Ethan as he spoke, causing Munchlax to glance over toward him, which caused Ethan to smile and nod.

    It was a curious thing, watching pokemon talk to one another. Sometimes¡ªwell, most of the time, Ethan wished he could understand them. With Nurse Joy around, he had someone to speak to and have a proper conversation. Unfortunately, that wasn¡¯t always the case. All of the conversations he usually had were one way, but maybe once Chatot got some practice in, she could help bridge the language gap they had. He¡¯d been working with her on her songs at least once a day, and he could see her improvement, but she was still a long ways away from properly having a conversation.

    After fifteen minutes of cooking, the fragrant smells of an enormous amount of fried rice, filled with celery, carrots, and even some berries, made its way through Ethan¡¯s home. Munchlax was drooling, looking like Gloom, but had enough willpower to stay in its seat as it awaited its meal. As the smells suffused his home, the guest room door swung open, revealing Nurse Joy in her pink pajamas. She rubbed her eyes as she mindlessly walked over to the kitchen table, which was full of pokemon sitting in all the chairs or on top of the table itself, and tried to find an empty seat, which didn¡¯t exist.

    Munchlax looked from Nurse Joy to the seats around, then scrambled up onto the top of the table, giving Nurse Joy a seat. She mumbled out a quick, ¡®thanks¡¯, sat down, then tried to scoop up Munchlax to sit in her lap. Munchlax wasn¡¯t an overly large pokemon, but it definitely didn¡¯t go into the ¡®lap pokemon¡¯ category.

    ¡°Uhh¡­ Joyce, that¡¯s a wild Munchlax.¡±

    Joyce blinked her bleary eyes, then did her best to stare over the top of Munchlax¡¯s head, which was blocking her view. Then, recognition dawned and she locked eyes with Munchlax, who looked confused at the attempt to pick it up..

    ¡°Munch?¡±

    Without a word, Nurse Joy looked around the table, then to Ethan. ¡°Good morning.¡±

    Ethan nearly dropped his pot of fried rice in complete bafflement at her lack of concern. ¡°As I said earlier, there was a Munchlax in my cellar.¡±

    Munchlax raised its hand with a smile. ¡°Munch!¡±

    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    ¡°Yes, we¡¯re talking about you. So¡­ any advice?¡± Ethan asked as he brought out bowls and plates, beginning to set them out on the table.

    Nurse Joy, now fully awake, looked Munchlax up and down with a critical eye. ¡°Everything appears to be handled. What do you want me to do?¡±

    Ethan started to give out helpings to all the pokemon and Nurse Joy. ¡°I mean, I don¡¯t know. Aren¡¯t Munchlax like, super rare or something?¡±

    ¡°Thank you for the food. But, to answer your question, yes and no. While they¡¯re rare for trainers due to the amount of food that they need, they¡¯re not too rare out in the wilds. If a trainer wanted one, they could find one given enough time. Snorlax, on the other hand, is very rare.¡± Nurse Joy dug into her meal, and smiled with appreciation after taking a single bite.

    Ethan grabbed Shuckle¡¯s pokeball, and released him next to a plate on the table. Shuckle appeared in his shell, and stuck his yellow, noodly head out of one of the holes cautiously, scanning around the room to find a jovial breakfast underway. He spotted Munchlax, but watched it wait eagerly for its helping, then deemed him not a threat. ¡°Shuu?¡±

    ¡°We got everything sorted out. Here, eat your food.¡± Ethan shoved the small bowl toward Shuckle, who eagerly buried his head inside, taking big gummy chomps of rice, vegetables, and berries, out with every bite.

    ¡°I will say, for such a simple dish, you¡¯re doing well for yourself. I hope you¡¯re getting some more variety in your diet?¡±

    Ethan winced and shook his head. ¡°No, not really. Ideally, some wheat or some other kind of grain would be nice. I could make bread, and go on from there. Beans, and other sources of protein would be ideal as well. Eggs, milk, honey¡­ the list goes on.¡±

    Nurse Joy nodded along, eating her meal without any complaints. ¡°Well, eggs will be a challenge for you, as Chansey and Blissey are the two pokemon who supply eggs on a normal basis. Unfertilized eggs, that is. While I would like to say you could easily get one for your ranch, I¡¯d be lying.¡±

    Speaking of the pokemon, Chansey walked out of the guest room and waddled over to the couch. She grabbed the TV remote, and began watching the news. Nurse Joy smiled and pointed her spoon over toward the pink pokemon. ¡°Chansey are bred, born, and raised by the Joy Clan. While there are some in the wild, they¡¯re the really rare type of pokemon. I could name on one hand the amount of Chansey¡¯s I¡¯ve met owned by trainers.¡±

    Ethan thought that¡¯d be the case, but he was hoping that he still had a chance. (Pun intended.) ¡°Are they in Kanto¡¯s safari zone?¡±

    Nurse Joy laughed at the question. ¡°Yes, I bet you¡¯d never guess where those Chansey come from?¡±

    Ethan sighed as he filled himself up a bowl of breakfast, then handed the rest, still in the pot, to Munchlax, who¡¯s sole focus was on the food.

    ¡°Munch-Munch-Munch-Munch-Munch-Munch¡± Munchlax, shoveled handfuls of food into its mouth, only stopping once it had to scrape the sides, stick its head inside the pot, and lick the corners. Smeargle helpfully pulled the pot off its head once it was finished.

    ¡°The Joy Clan?¡± Ethan answered.

    ¡°Got it in one!¡± Nurse Joy finished her meal, then took her dishes into the kitchen and place them in the sink. She leaned up against the counter next to Ethan, and watched all the pokemon chat about and have breakfast together.

    ¡°For honey, you¡¯d actually have an easy time. Down south of here is Floaroma town, home to many Combee. I¡¯m sure you could get a few of them to call this place home. They¡¯d love it in your meadow. If you¡¯re lucky enough to pull in a female, they¡¯d evolve into a Vespiquen, capable of commanding the males. They¡¯re well known to share their honey, and with the wide assortment of berries you have, you¡¯d have many different flavors of honey to experiment with.¡±

    Ethan took a bite of his meal, and soaked in the information.

    ¡°For milk, Miltank is the premiere pokemon you¡¯d want. While in the future, Skiddo will be able to provide milk, that¡¯s a long time to wait. You could easily get a Miltank or two online. You¡¯d have to stop by the pokemon center to grab them after the transfer, but you could do it with ease.¡±

    Ethan frowned. ¡°I¡¯d want to make sure that they¡¯d like it here. It feels wrong to get a pokemon strictly for using them for their milk. They¡¯d need to want to be here, and provide.¡±

    Nurse Joy patted his shoulder with a smile. ¡°That¡¯s a great way to think. I believe any Miltank would love to call this place home. They¡¯d share their milk with you without any fuss. They need to be milked at certain intervals or it causes them discomfort, so it¡¯s a win-win. Remember, all pokemon either traded or sold want to go somewhere else. You wouldn¡¯t be stealing them away or taking them from their homes. You¡¯d be doing them a favor by taking care of them here.¡±

    Ethan finished his meal and let loose a held breath. ¡°Of course, you¡¯re right. It¡¯s just¡­ new to me. As someone who wasn¡¯t around pokemon all my life, pokemon are something special. To you, or maybe others, they¡¯re just something that¡¯s a constant. A fact of life. To me and many people from my world, they¡¯re what we dreamed of.¡±

    As Nurse Joy was about to reply, Ethan¡¯s phone buzzed and vibrated itself along the counter. Ethan picked up his phone, and read the text he¡¯d received.

    Looking over to the rowdy fire-dog, Ethan smiled. ¡°Growlithe, your trainer is coming by today to pick you up! Be ready to show him your new move!¡±

    ¡°Gro!¡± Growlithe jumped off the table, then went over and sat calmly by the door, his tail wagging excitedly. Ethan snorted and opened the door to let the pup outside, and watched as the orange bundle of energy launched floating white stars into the sky as he sprinted around the ranch.

    Looking over toward the meadow, Gogoat and Blitzle were walking toward the berry trees. ¡°Gogoat! Blitzle! Your trainers are coming by today!¡±

    Both Gogoat and Blitzle smiled and did excited stamps of their hooves as they looked at one another.

    Apparently, the three trainers who¡¯d left their pokemon in his care had become friends. They¡¯d be traveling together for the rest of their journey.

    ¡°Dun?¡± Dunsparce said his name questionably from behind him.

    ¡°Not today, I can ask them when they¡¯ll come?¡±

    Dunsparce gave him a nod, so Ethan sent a text to Dunsparce''s trainer asking when they¡¯d come to pick him up. ¡°Annnd, sent. I¡¯ll let you know when they respond. In the meantime¡­¡± Ethan knelt down to the ground to whisper in Dunsparce¡¯s ear. ¡°Try to let Shuckle know you¡¯ll be leaving¡­ I don¡¯t want him to be so hurt if its too sudden. He likes you, you are his first friend. Can you do that for me?¡±

    Dunsparce flapped his pearly white wings and gave Ethan a resolute nod. ¡°Dunsparce!¡±

    ¡°Ethan! The eggs!¡±

    The shout from Nurse Joy caused him, and all the pokemon to scramble toward the guest room, where Nurse Joy had wandered. Inside, a newly dressed Joyce, in casual wear, stared at the three pokemon eggs bundled in a mound of blankets. One egg, the one with yellow bolts of lightning and gentle white wind currents shook rapidly.

    The next thing Ethan saw was a bright light.

 Chapter 42

    Ethan shielded his eyes from the bright white light. It didn¡¯t take a genius to know that the egg was hatching, but he would be lying if he said he wasn¡¯t surprised by the gleaming light which was identical to an evolution. He heard sounds of cracking eggshells, excited murmurs from all the surrounding pokemon, Nurse Joy squealing like a little girl in happiness, and lowered his arm just in time to see the white light morphing into the shape of a pokemon.

    Ethan waited for the shining light to dim, revealing the colors of the new, baby pokemon, to truly feel pure happiness and joy. He didn¡¯t dare get his hopes up too early, for fear of them being squashed, but in this case, his worry was unwarranted.

    His favorite pokemon was there, just a few feet away from him.

    ¡°Emol?¡±

    The small, adorable, newly hatched Emolga moved its arms about in experimentation, causing its winged membrane to wave and flap with the motion. It giggled and sped up his waves, causing the flapping to intensify. Emogla took a few experimental steps on the blanket it found itself in, then unceremoniously fell forward onto its face¡ªearning itself a face full of fabric.

    Unknowingly, Ethan took a few steps forward and knelt down in front of the electric flying squirrel. As his shadow eclipsed Emolga, Emolga looked up at Ethan in wonder. A single droplet fell onto Emolga¡¯s face, causing it to scrunch up in confusion. It blinked rapidly and crossed its eyes to look at the wet spot which suddenly appeared.

    And that was when Ethan realized he was crying.

    For the first time in twenty-nine years, Ethan cried from pure, unadulterated joy.

    After joy came a deep sense of gratitude. Cynthia had given him this egg, and with his mind racing to connect the dots, Ethan realized that the first time they¡¯d met, he was looking up Emolga on the Pokemon Center¡¯s PC. She remembered, and when she saw the chance, put this egg aside for him to care for.

    And care for it he will.

    Ethan scooped up Emolga into his arms as he took a shuddering breath, trying his best to calm his emotions. Looking down, he felt Emolga grasp onto his shirt, flexing its hands wildly as it had grasped something for the very first time. Then, with his free arm, Ethan wiped his tears away and turned to face the room.

    Joyce was crying, wiping her eyes with a handkerchief that Chansey had somehow materialized. Pachirisu was chittering to Chatot, who watched the scene unfold before her with a curiously tilted head. Shuckle was staring, mouth agape. His head looked from Ethan to Emolga, then to the two remaining eggs on the bundle of blankets.

    Smeargle peered at Ethan from above his easel, painting a picture of the moment that would last, and Munchlax stood next to him, utterly confused but smiling nonetheless¡ªjust glad to be a part of whatever this was.

    Then, as joy and gratitude passed, worry rushed in like a tidal wave. Ethan looked to Joyce with fearful eyes, an unspoken conversation passing. Nurse Joy wiped her eyes once more, then huffed out a laugh. She walked forward and took Emolga from Ethan¡¯s arms. ¡°Give me a moment. Then, we¡¯ll talk about what to do.¡±

    Ethan nodded, more than willing to let the expert make sure Emolga was okay. He ushered out the rest of the pokemon, sans Chansey, and collapsed onto his sofa, staring at the ceiling.

    Pachirisu scrambled up Ethan¡¯s leg, then up the side of the sofa to sit next to Ethan¡¯s head. ¡°Pachi pach?¡±

    Ethan raised his hand and ran it through Pachirisu¡¯s fluffy and luxurious fur. ¡°I¡¯m okay. I was just¡­ so happy.¡±

    He took a deep breath and tried to explain his emotions. ¡°Before I continue, I want you to understand that I love you all equally¡­ but Emolga is my favorite pokemon species. Seeing one¡ªhaving one¡­ It¡¯s a dream come true. I never thought this day would come, and with so much happening in one morning, I¡¯m just a little overwhelmed.¡±

    Pachirisu nuzzled his head into Ethan¡¯s neck, understanding and happy for him, which caused another whole host of emotions to rise up from within.

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot! ?¡±

    Chatot did a single hop up from the floor and landed softly on Ethan¡¯s lap. She gently nudged her feathered head, eighth note and all, into his chest lovingly.

    ¡°Shuuu!¡± Seeing the other two pokemon comfort Ethan, caused Shuckle to flail his noodle arms from the ground. That was the tall tale signal for ¡®uppies¡¯. Ethan snorted and picked up Shuckle, placing him onto the sofa beside him.

    ¡°I love all of you.¡±

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot! ?¡±

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    ¡°Pachi!¡±

    ¡°Shuuu!¡±

    ¡ª------------------------------------------

    When Nurse Joy exited the guest room, Ethan stood up a little too hastily. Chatot squawked as she was upended, Pachirisu rolled down the sofa from the sudden movement, and Shuckle just waved his noodly arms in happiness.

    ¡°She¡¯s in perfect health.¡± Joyce said with a brilliant white smile as Chansey strolled out of the guest room, her nurse''s cap back on her head. In Chansey¡¯s arms, she carried the curious, wide-eyed Emolga out into the living room. She promptly walked to the kitchen and started rummaging around.

    ¡°She¡¯s going to make Emolga something to eat.¡± Nurse Joy explained as she pushed Ethan¡¯s shoulders down, forcing him to sit back down. She sat next to him, then started her explanation. ¡°Caring for newly hatched pokemon is a daunting, but rewarding experience. You¡¯ll need to ease them into their foods, not train them, and make sure they explore their capabilities. I don¡¯t see you having any issue with the food, as mushed berries would be perfect for her, same with the training, but each pokemon must explore their abilities themselves. For Emolga, this will be her unique flying style. Emolga¡¯s flight membrane is primarily for gliding, but they can fly under their own power. She¡¯ll have to experiment and learn her own way on how to do this, and you¡¯re going to have to be her safety net. Unlike normal flying pokemon, like Chatot, who flap their wings using physical force to fly, Emolga uses energy.¡±

    Joyce made sure Ethan was following along before finishing. ¡°Besides that? Treat her like you would any of your pokemon. Love them and care for them. You¡¯ll be fine.¡±

    Then, Joyce took out her phone and tilted the screen toward Ethan, revealing a snapshot of the moment Ethan knelt in front of Emolga while crying. ¡°I¡¯ll be sending this to everyone I know as payment for services rendered. Also, I¡¯m having Smeargle make me a copy of his painting to hang up in the Pokemon Center.¡±

    Ethan groaned but wasn¡¯t too bothered about it. All things considered, if she wasn¡¯t here, he would have panicked. He honestly expected worse. But, upon seeing the phone, it reminded Ethan of a call he needed to make.

    Ethan excused himself from the couch and the pokemon, grabbed his phone from the kitchen counter, and then walked out onto his patio. Ethan held the phone up to his ear as it dialed away, reaching the person he needed to thank.

    ¡°Hello, Ethan.¡± Cynthia¡¯s voice teased knowingly from over the phone.

    ¡°She sent you the picture already, didn¡¯t she?¡± Ethan asked, knowing the answer.

    ¡°Oh, yes, she did. You¡¯re welcome.¡±

    Ethan was quiet for a moment, causing Cynthia to speak again. ¡°Ethan?¡±

    ¡°Thank you. This means a lot more to me than you realize.¡±

    Cynthia must have heard his shuddering breath as her teasing tone faded away. Now, it was caring. He could hear her faint smile as she spoke. ¡°You¡¯re welcome, Ethan. Take good care of Emolga.¡±

    ¡°I will. I was just calling to say thank you. Stop by when you have some free time, and I¡¯ll introduce you.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll make the time. Bye, Ethan.¡±

    ¡°Bye, Cynthia.¡±

    Click

    ¡°Munch?¡±

    Turning around, Ethan saw Munchlax looking up at him with a tilted head. Apparently, it had followed him outside without him noticing. Ethan looked around his ranch, then back to Munchlax. ¡°You like it here?¡±

    Munchlax nodded as he rubbed its side, then with a look of surprise, pulled a berry out of its fur, which it promptly plopped into its mouth with a satisfied smile. ¡°You¡¯re free to stay, but pace yourself when it comes to berries. Don¡¯t overeat, or I will have to put you on a diet. You may not be my pokemon, but I care for all of those who call this place home. That will include you.¡±

    Munchlax nodded hurriedly, more afraid of the diet than anything else.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be keeping my eye on you¡­¡± Ethan pointed at his eyes, then pointed at Munchlax. ¡°So, I don¡¯t know much about Munchlax¡¯s, but where do you sleep? In trees?¡±

    Munchlax shook his head, then pointed at Ethan''s house. ¡°You want to sleep inside?¡±

    Munchlax nodded and then walked up and hugged his leg, staring up at him with puppy dog eyes. Ethan sighed and ran his hand down his face. ¡°My house is getting a little cramped. You okay with the couch?¡±

    With rapid nods as his answer, Ethan shrugged. ¡°Fine then, the couch is yours¡­ as long as you don¡¯t over eat.¡±

    Munchlax gave his leg a final squeeze, then ran over to the patio door, opened it with ease, then ran inside with arms raised high in victory.

    Ethan sat down on the side of his patio, dangling his legs over the edge as he stared at the dozing Oddish. Apparently, there were no pauses in the pokemon world. Pokemon were coming and going, and it was already emotionally draining. It had only been three hours, and he¡¯d found a Munchlax, hatched an Emolga, and three of his residents were leaving.

    Hopefully, he¡¯d get used to this. The ¡®hellos¡¯ were welcome, but the ¡®goodbyes¡¯ were rough.

    ¡ª-------------------------------------------------

    ¡°Goodbye you three!¡± Ethan waved as Gogoat, Blitzle, and Growlithe walked off down the trail exiting his ranch with their trainers.

    The three pokemon each turned and gave him smiles, but turned away and excitedly joined their trainers side¡ªhappy to be reunited.

    Once they were out of sight, Ethan lowered his hand and rubbed the Skiddo egg left behind. Both Bliztle¡¯s and Gogoat¡¯s trainers decided to leave the egg behind with Ethan. For Gogoat¡¯s trainer, it was because they already had Gogoat. For Blitzle¡¯s, they had just filled out their roster with a sixth member, and didn¡¯t have any place to keep an extra pokemon. As it was a unique scenario, as both of the trainers'' pokemon were a part of the egg making process, Ethan gave them both the fifty percent discount, as it was only fair. Thankfully, both Gogoat and Blitzle seemed to want Ethan to keep the egg as well, so there were no issues there.

    He had only known them for a week, but Ethan was going to miss them¡ªnot the puppy slobber wake-ups, but everything else. As he turned around to head back to his home, he spotted Dunsparce off to the side of the cobblestone path, with Shuckle by his side. They had watched the parting, and it looked like Dunsparce was talking to Shuckle about him leaving soon.

    Shuckle looked sad, reaching his noodly arms toward Dunsparce as he shook his head from side to side, but Dunsparce shook his head as well. It was hard for Ethan not to go over and comfort his berry buddy, but this was a part of life he needed to learn. He would be there for Shuckle when Dunsparce left, but for now, the two pokemon needed to talk it out. Dunsparce noticed Ethan walking by, and gave him a solid nod. Ethan gave the pokemon one in return, unbeknownst to the saddened Shuckle.

    Goodbyes were hard.

 Chapter 43

    ¡°One more time Shuckle! Then, you¡¯re free to collect the berries!¡± Ethan shouted with cupped hands, as Shuckle gave him a resolute nod.

    They were just finishing up their training, and for Shuckle, it was him using Power Split against Chansey. Chansey was one of the weakest physically attacking pokemon, so Ethan was hoping that Shuckle could get a feel for how strong an opponent was when he used to the move. The wider range of experience he had, the better he could judge how much stronger he got, and how much weaker his foe became.

    Two small white orbs exited the pokemon, with Chansey¡¯s being a slightly larger than Shuckles. Both orbs rocketed toward one another, colliding and combining into two equally sized orbs, which re-entered each pokemon. Chansey barely noticed the difference and was more than happy to clap in support of Shuckle¡¯s successful move.

    ¡°Great job buddy! Remember, no-matter how weak you are when it comes to dealing damage, this move will even the odds. You have the potential to be the strongest pokemon in the world, you just need to believe in yourself like I believe in you. Now, go have fun with your berries.¡±

    ¡°Shuuuuckle!¡± Without wasting any time, Shuckle left to head toward the berry fields. He¡¯d been waiting all day to collect the berries, and with Ethan mentioning trying different types of berries for his juice, Shuckle was on a mission.

    Looking over to Chansey, Ethan gave her a smile. ¡°Thank you for your help. He¡¯s still very scared of battles.¡±

    ¡°Chansey!¡± Chansey waved away his thanks, then waddled over and walked down the cobblestone path back toward his home.

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot! ?¡± Chatot fluttered her way down from the sky, landing into the center of the training field with her metronome in her beak. She placed it down, then pushed the pendulum, causing it to tick.

    Ethan sighed but gave her a smile. ¡°Alright, singing time. You wanted a new song?¡±

    ¡°? Chaa-toooooooooooooot! ?¡±

    Ethan took a seat onto the ground and patted his lap. Chatot eagerly hopped over and hopped into it. He idly stroked her feathers as he thought about a new song for her to enjoy. She loved music, which wasn¡¯t a surprise, but she was hankering for something new. She¡¯d been getting better at the Star Spangled Banner, but working on one song wasn¡¯t the best way to train. She needed to adapt.

    As he looked at his eager, colorful bird¡¯s blue feathers, a song came to mind.

    Although Ethan wasn¡¯t the best at singing, he wasn¡¯t terrible¡ªhe was strictly average. There also wasn¡¯t a need to feel embarrassed around his pokemon. So, Ethan stared into the bright blue sky as she started his rendition of Over The Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo¡¯ole. It would have been better if he had a ukulele or guitar, and even better if he knew how to play them, but he worked with what he had, and that was his voice.

    As he sang, Ethan¡¯s thoughts drifted back to earlier in the day, where some of his dreams did come true. Then, they traveled back farther to when he was alone in the forest. At the time, he didn¡¯t think that appearing here was much of a blessing. Now? Now, he was happy to have appeared here. It truly was a dream come true. Who would say no to appearing in the world of pokemon?

    Right after Ethan had started singing, having gotten lost in the moment, Chatot had stilled. Her excited tail swinging, which was in tune with the metronome, stopped. Chatot ceased wiggling and moving¡ªeverything. She just stared. Unbeknownst to Ethan, she gazed up at him from within his lap and just listened. Being a pokemon about music, she could hear the emotion in this song, and she began to understand a little bit more about her trainer.

    When he finished, he was still gazing up into the sky, watching the clouds pass by. Then, he felt Chatot shove her head into his chest and wrap her wings around his waist, giving him a hug. He wrapped an arm around her and gave her a squeeze in return. ¡°Work on that song. Remember, you don¡¯t have to use my voice. You have a voice of your own somewhere. You just have to find it.¡±

    ¡°Ted?¡±

    ¡°Teddi?¡±

    Tearing his gaze away from the sky, Ethan saw that he had inadvertently gotten an audience. Both Teddiursa stood by their mom¡¯s feet, paws cutely stuck into the mouth as they looked on with tilted heads. Ursaring stood unmoving, but stared calculatingly at Ethan.

    ¡°Well, this is awkward. Hello there.¡± Ethan said as he rose from the ground holding Chatot in his arms. ¡°Perfect timing, actually.¡± Ethan whispered to Chatot, then she pecked his cheek and flew off toward his home.

    Ethan looked in askance at the two Teddiursa, a raised eyebrow and a grin growing on his face. ¡°Well? Where¡¯s my hug?¡±

    The two Teddiursa let loose ferociously cute ¡®rawrs¡¯ as they charged forward and tackled him to the ground. They, like always, rooted around in his pockets for any hidden berry treats, finding them tucked away in their usual spots, then squealed as Ethan grabbed them both with one arm each, and wrestled with them.

    Ursaring snorted, then plomped herself down onto the ground, watching them play, but also scanning their surroundings. Ethan caught her scanning about and uttered out his reassurance with a mouthful of Teddiursa fur in the way. ¡°Only one person is on the ranch, and I guarantee they are not a threat. It¡¯s safe.¡±

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    After a minute of wrestling, with Ethan losing the handicap wrestling match, Ursaring stood abruptly, shock clear on her face. ¡°Urs!¡±

    Both Teddiursa quickly abandoned Ethan¡¯s side, rushing to their mother and standing behind her.

    Nurse Joy walked out from between two of his berry trees with a smile on her face. Not one ounce of fear was shown as she walked up to Ethan. Chatot was on her shoulder, and Pikachu rested on her head, one eye peeking open, keeping an eye on Ursaring.

    Ethan got up from the ground, wiping the dirt off his clothes as Nurse Joy arrived by his side. She looked at Ursaring, whose face was still showing shock. ¡°I think that answers my question. She knows who I am, or who my family is. She had a trainer.¡±

    This knowledge didn¡¯t really affect the way Ethan saw Ursaring. It only answered why the pokeball had been smashed and why she was so protective over her children. ¡°And? She was someone¡¯s pokemon once upon a time. That doesn¡¯t change much, right?¡±

    Joyce stared at Ursaring unflinchingly and with a stale smile. ¡°No. I suppose not. I¡¯ll need to make some calls. That¡¯s about it.¡±

    The weird vibe suffusing his training ground was getting slightly uncomfortable, so Ethan quickly changed topics. ¡°Well, Ursaring, Nurse Joy is the one who''s going to check over your Teddiursa and have them registered to me. She can make sure they¡¯re in tip-top shape. You okay with that?¡±

    Ursaring¡¯s face morphed from shock, to frustration, to sadness, then to acceptance. Which, in and of itself, was concerning. Momma bear nodded slowly, shoving the two Teddiursa forward with a gruff murmur. Both of the two teddy bear pokemon looked unsure, looking from their mom to Ethan, then to Joyce, but with some encouraging smiles sent their way, they sheepishly walked forward.

    Joyce grabbed each of them by the hand, then started to walk back to Ethan¡¯s home. He could hear her whispering encouragement and compliments to them as they walked away, but both of the Teddiursa looked over their shoulders to look at Ethan and Ursaring.

    Once they were out of sight, Ethan sighed and walked over to Ursaring. He wrapped an arm around her, giving her a one-armed hug. She seemed off put by the sudden intimate touch, judging by her shimmy, but Ethan¡¯s very direct question caused those feelings to evaporate. ¡°Did you love your old trainer?¡±

    In the wake of his question, all that remained was silence. After a few seconds, Ursaring gave him a simple, terse nod.

    ¡°They¡¯re not with us anymore, are they?¡± Ethan said softly, giving her a squeeze around the waist.

    He didn¡¯t receive an answer, so he continued. ¡°That¡¯s the only reason I can think of. You wouldn¡¯t have loved them otherwise. I don¡¯t know who they were, but they loved you as well. I know this, because I love my pokemon. If I were to leave them, or they would leave me, the one thing that would not be in question is the love and bond we had.¡±

    Ethan stood there with his arm wrapped around one of the strongest pokemon he¡¯d ever met, but he knew he wasn¡¯t in danger. Over the past year, he¡¯d come to know Ursaring. She never showed too much emotion towards him, other than indifference, but the emotions she showed every single waking moment of her life was care, love, and protection¡ªfor her children.

    ¡°You know, you could stay at the ranch with me. Teddiura could play with the pokemon around here. You could be a part of this place.¡± Ethan said, again, not receiving an answer.

    Ursaring slowly shifted her eyes down toward Ethan, as she stood a head taller than him, and he looked up, staring into her eyes to show he was serious. ¡°I¡¯d trust you around my pokemon.¡±

    Without taking her eyes off Ethan, Ursaring lowered her hand, grabbing Ethan¡¯s and took it off her waist. She turned, then walked off back into the forest without a word.

    It didn¡¯t take a genius to know she¡¯d be back for her kids, but maybe she needed a little alone time. This definitely wasn¡¯t how she expected her day to go, but Ethan felt like she needed to hear his offer. He¡¯d be more than happy with Usraring staying around. For one, he¡¯d get to spend time with both Teddiursa, and she¡¯d also be some much needed muscle in case the worst came to pass.

    Being the alpha pokemon of this part of the Eterna Forest must have some weight, and if she left, another pokemon would take her place. She had a lot to think about, but he hoped she would stay around.

    Ethan made his way back home, finding Joyce outside on his patio with both Teddiursa. She was doing some simple tests, feeling around their muscles and looking into their mouths. Both of the Teddiursa didn¡¯t seem to particularly enjoy the treatment, but they weren¡¯t too bothered about it. They were ready to get this over with and go play around the ranch.

    As Ethan approached, both of the teddi¡¯s squirmed in anticipation for more playtime. Nurse Joy sighed with a smile, and gave him an exasperated look. Ethan walked up onto the patio and rubbed their heads. ¡°Your mom went into the forest to take care of something. She¡¯ll be back later. So, until she returns¡­ playtime!¡±

    ¡°Tedddddd!¡±

    ¡°TEEEEED!¡±

    Both of the Teddiursa scrambled off his patio, one chasing the other, as they sprinted, rammed, and tackled one another. Pachirisu surged forth, from out of the Oddish, and joined in with a mighty battlecry! A grin spread on his face as tiny surges of electricity jolted from his yellow cheeks. ¡°Paaaaaaach!

    This wasn¡¯t the first time Pachirisu had joined in on the fun, but it had been a long time since he felt the need or been around. Ethan walked back inside his home with Joyce, leaving the pokemon to play.

    Sitting at his kitchen table, Smeargle held a snoozing Emolga in his lap as he used the laptop. Ethan blinked rapidly, not expecting the pokemon to be capable of the feat, but he didn¡¯t have much time to think as Smeargle hurriedly waved him over. The painter pokemon smiled as he turned the laptop around, showing several pages of an online store filled with art supplies. The total price of the basket being about the cost of a single tutoring session¡ªfifty thousand pokedollars. It had paints, brushes, canvas, and other tools known for painting.

    ¡°Uhh. That¡¯s pretty expensive, and we don¡¯t exactly get shipping here.¡± Ethan tried to let down the painter easy, but Smeargle shook his head and pointed into the living room.

    Hung up on the wall, next to the couch, a near perfect snapshot of Ethan holding Emolga in his arms. Around the sides of the painting, all of his pokemon stood watching on. Smeargle looked smug, then pointed to the laptop once again, as if saying ¡®payment is due¡¯.

    Ethan closed his eyes and pinched his nose. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you what. If you finish learning Teleport, I¡¯ll buy all of this for you. That way, we can actually go and get them. You¡¯ve been to Eterna City before, right?¡±

    Smeargle nodded happily, then pointed questionably toward Nurse Joy, who sat on the couch petting her Pikachu. ¡°Joyce, do any of your pokemon know Teleport?¡±

    ¡°Cleffy does, why?¡±

    ¡°Smeargle needs to Sketch some more to learn it.¡±

    Nurse Joy shrugged. ¡°Go ask her to help out, don¡¯t ask me.¡±

    Ethan looked at Smeargle. ¡°You heard her. Go make a deal with someone else now.¡±

 Chapter 44

    After calling about his website, sending some pictures for the web page, and hashing out some of the finer details; such as sending the contracts to sign, color schemes, and a personal rundown of changes he could make on his end once the website was done¡­ several hours had passed.

    Joyce had left to explore the ranch with some of her pokemon, spending her day not by his side. That was perfectly fine, as he had plenty to do by himself as well. As he closed his laptop, his front door opened with force. Ethan jumped from the surprise, but as Ursaring ducked her head down and squeezed into the doorframe, he was stupefied. ¡°Well then, welcome back.¡±

    Ursaring took a moment to scan the inside of Ethan¡¯s home, as this was her first time seeing the indoors of his new home (Having seen the inside of his rough cabin and shack), then came up to Ethan with heavy, sure-footed steps. She held out her hand, then dropped an item onto the table in front of him. The item bounced three times before Ethan could tell that it was a scuffed, silvery, paint chipped Ultra Ball. Underneath the paint was a perfectly reflective metal, reminding Ethan of titanium. The Ultra Ball rolled across the table before gently knocking into the corner of his closed laptop.

    ¡°Ursa.¡± Ursaring grunted as she pointed at the ball to Ethan, then to his hip.

    He smiled. ¡°As I said, I¡¯d be more than happy to have you here on my ranch¡­¡± Ethan slid his gaze to the Ultra Ball. ¡°But, you know, we¡¯ve known each other for a long time¡­ I¡¯m not sure how you feel about it, but I¡¯d be happy if you didn¡¯t just want to stay here. I¡¯d be happy to be your trainer. I want this place to be a sanctuary for all pokemon. While I don¡¯t think I could train you properly as a battler, I have a feeling your old trainer did that well enough, given your strength. I¡¯d want you to protect this place like you do for your children¡­ They¡¯d be happy here¡­¡±

    Ethan trailed off, waiting to see how Ursaring took his poorly done sales pitch. He liked Ursaring, he truly did. When he was alone, it was Pachirisu, Ursaring, and her two Teddiursa which made living a little bit more bearable. They¡¯ve come to respect one another, and he was indebted to Ursaring for not only sparing him when he was lost, afraid, and defenseless, but for being the one who found him the help he needed. He truly believed that Ursaring would be happy here, and that living here would be better for her children.

    Ursaring stared into his eyes, her gaze searching. Ever so slowly, she nodded and swatted her Ultra Ball to roll off the table and into his lap. Ethan grabbed the scuffed Ultra Ball, then looked to Ursaring. ¡°When was the last time you went into your ball.¡±

    Ursaring gave Ethan a small smile, but shrugged. ¡°Want to go in for old times sake?¡± She nodded, so Ethan sent out the thin beam of red, which sucked her into her old ball. He wasn¡¯t sure if pokeballs were like the anime, where the pokemon could hear from within, but he talked to her just in case. ¡°Welcome to the family. Shake about when you want me to release you.¡±

    And just like that, Ethan got his answer to his question. The Ultra Ball in his palm shook once, acknowledging his words. ¡°I¡¯ll watch over your kids. Take a well-deserved break.¡± Ethan whispered as he stashed the Ultra ball into his pocket¡ªthe six slots of his belt already filled. He¡¯d need to find some sort of safe or cabinet to hold the ¡®home away from home¡¯ of his friends, but that could wait for now. Maybe he¡¯d order one if and when Smeargle learned Teleport.

    As Ethan walked out onto his patio, the faint blips of teleport caught his attention. Joyce¡¯s Clefable, Cleffy, teleported around in front of his home. Next to the patio stairs, Smeargle stood there painting on his easel. Smeargle was engrossed in his work, his tail flinging to and fro as he painted the scene before him, but something special was happening as well. From his vantage point, Ethan could see the magical sight of Smeargle¡¯s painting moving. The painted Clefable faded, then appeared across the canvas in a brand new pose. The tip of Smeagle¡¯s tail was glowing with a bright white, signaling that he was using a normal type move, and it wasn¡¯t much of a stretch to guess that it was Sketch.

    He wasn¡¯t sure when they started this unique training session. It could have been a few hours ago, once Smeargle left, or ten minutes ago, when Cleffy found some time, but neither of the pokemon looked like they wanted to stop. Occasionally, Cleffy would teleport behind Smeargle to see the painting, get excited, then teleport back to continue onwards with her teleporting.

    Ethan sat on the stairs behind Smeargle and watched on. ¡°Can you make all your paintings move like that?¡±

    Smeargle simply shook his head, too focused on his artwork to elaborate.

    Ethan shifted his eyes between the mesmerizing artwork to the teleporting Cleffy, who paused in a pose every time she stopped. ¡°Is this move harder to learn than the others you¡¯ve sketched?¡±

    Smeargle rapidly nodded his head. His tongue was sticking out, as it usually did, but he tucked it in when he truly focused.

    Not wanting to interrupt Smeargle¡¯s learning and fun, Ethan ended his questions there. ¡°Come find me once you learn the move, then we can go get you some more art supplies. We can also show some of the others what a city is like. I¡¯m sure Pachirisu and Shuckle will be shocked.¡±

    If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    Smeargle nodded again, hurriedly waving Ethan away with a free hand, telling him to go away and let him work. He laughed as he scooted around the easel and made his way off into the meadow to check on the pond pokemon.

    As he made his way through the meadow, he spotted Joyce by the pond. She was there with her Pikachu, Chansey, and Floette feeding the pokemon. Chansey was caringly giving the Feebas and Magikarp bits of berries, smiling the entire time. It was obvious that the pink caregiver was perfect for a Nurse Joy if this was how they all acted.

    Floette floated over the pond as she hugged her flower, annoying the resident Krabby who snipped and snapped at the floating pokemon. Ethan couldn¡¯t tell if Floette was doing it on purpose, but given how grumpy this Krabby was, he didn¡¯t think it was her who started it.

    Pikachu was fishing with her tail in the water, using it as bait to attract the Magikarp who nibbled on the exposed appendage. She squealed and batted them gently when they nibbled, but it was obviously in a playful manner.

    Joyce was cutting up some berries into smaller pieces as she finally caught wind of him watching. Not wanting to interrupt their little outing, he just gave her a wave and a smile, then walked away. She could enjoy her free time however she wished, and he didn¡¯t want to intrude.

    Going back the way he came, Ethan took the time to inspect the sprouts which the Oddish and Gloom planted during their ritual. They looked exactly the same as they did the day before, so he was sure that they were doing fine. With Blitzle and Gogoat gone, there weren¡¯t any threats to their existence. They would be undisturbed until they ¡®hatched¡¯ or grew-up¡­ Ethan wasn¡¯t actually too sure about what would happen to them when the time came.

    After passing by Smeargle and Cleffy, which earned him a minute glare for passing into the picture frame, Ethan found Munchlax, Dunsparce, Shuckle, and both Teddiursa by Shuckle¡¯s den hole.

    Both of the Teddi¡¯s were wrestling, using moves like Tackle and Lick as they brawled it out. Shuckle, Munchlax, and Dunsparce were eating a lunch of berries as they watched the two teddy bears rough-house with one another. Ethan narrowed his eyes at Munchlax¡¯s large pile of berries, but after judging that it wouldn¡¯t even amount to ten percent of Munchlax¡¯s weight, he let it slide.

    Shuckle watched the fighting with a face of worry, but he never moved to stop it. Instead, he flinched every time one got hit, retreating into his shell little by little. Dunsparce noticed, giving him a pat on the shell in assurance as he nibbled on his small pile of berries, which caused Shuckle to stop his retreat.

    The speedier of the two Teddiursa kicked its kin off of him, then hit quite a nasty tackle. Its sibling fell to the ground with its head bouncing heavily on the grass, causing a loud thunk to be heard. All the pokemon nearby perked up in concern, and Dunsparce even began wiggling forward to check if the young teddy bear was okay. If Ethan was to put it into game terms, that for sure would have been a critical hit.

    The Teddiursa who had tackled its sibling got up and took a few steps back, while holding its hand up to its mouth and looking around for its mom. In doing so, it spotted Ethan, who had sped forward to check on the hurt Teddi. As he strode forward, the Ultra Ball in his pocket wiggled back and forth. So, Ethan did as promised and released Ursaring next to the fallen Teddi, who had tears growing in the corner of its eyes.

    Once the crying Teddiursa saw its mom, the waterworks began to flow as it raised its hands up crying. Ursaring picked it up and held it close to her chest while rocking back and forth. The other Teddi walked forward and murmured its name, seemingly apologizing to its sibling.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t on purpose.¡± Ethan said as he caught up to where he released big mama. ¡°No rest in parenting.¡±

    Ursaring snorted as she continued calming down the hurt Teddi, checking over its head for any injuries, finding none. Ethan walked over to Shuckle and asked for him to grab some Sitrus berries from storage. Instead of going to fetch the berries, it seemed that Shuckle had some in his shell already. He took three from within his shell and handed them to Ethan, who then walked up to Ursaring, transferring them to her.

    Ursaring wordless took the berries from him, then gave them to the crying Teddiursa who had calmed down to simple hiccupping sobs. It slowly munched on the berries as it sniffled.

    Ethan knelt down to pick up the other Teddiursa, who watched nervously as its sibling ate the berries. ¡°They''re okay. You guys are tough. It was an accident.¡± Teddiursa nodded when Ethan said it was an accident as it sucked on its paw nervously.

    Ursaring grunted and began speaking to her children, who both responded as if having a conversation.

    ¡°Ursa Ursaring Ring.¡±

    ¡°Teddi Ted.¡±

    ¡°Te¡ª-Teddi.¡±

    Ursaring then elbowed Ethan before pointing at the pokeballs on his hip. Picking up what she was putting down, Ethan recalled both the Teddiursa for some rest. He clipped the balls back onto his belt as Ursaring called out to be recalled as well.

    With all three bears in their balls, Ethan turned to his berry bud. ¡°You see how they stopped once one got hurt?¡±

    Shuckle pulled himself forward, coming up to Ethan as he nodded. ¡°That¡¯s what would happen if you got into some fights around here. It would stop once someone got hurt. If you ever want to battle, I want you to tell me. I¡ªI want you to be able to defend yourself if the need arises, and to do that, you need to learn how to fight back.¡±

    Ethan picked up Shuckle and gave him a hug. While hugging, he whispered. ¡°I¡¯m not like you guys, Shuckle. I cannot defend myself against a pokemon¡­¡±

    Shuckle pulled his head back from the hug and looked at Ethan with shock and worry.

    ¡°If I get attacked, I¡¯m depending on you, Pachirisu, Chatot, and the others to defend me. You don¡¯t have to love battling, but you need to be able to defend yourself¡­ and me. I don¡¯t have a shell to hide in. All I have is you guys.¡±

    Ethan placed Shuckle back on the ground and looked him in the eyes. ¡°Remember that when push comes to shove. There will come a day when you have to fight for what is right, or what or who you want to protect. Have fun with your friends.¡±

    Leaving Shuckle with those words of wisdom, Ethan walked back to his home.

    Someday, there would be someone who didn¡¯t care about what this place meant. They would come to steal, poach, and destroy. It wasn¡¯t a matter of if¡­ it was a matter of when.

    Hopefully, he and his pokemon will be prepared for it.

 Chapter 45

    The days on Ethan¡¯s peaceful ranch had come and gone. It had been two days since Ursaring and the Teddi¡¯s made Ethan¡¯s ranch their home, and they¡¯d been busy at work. Ursaring, similar to the bears from Earth, much preferred a cave as a home. He didn¡¯t know where the cave she used to have was at, but sadly, Ethan didn¡¯t have any caves on his property, and Ursaring would have been more aware than him if any were nearby for her to use.

    Ursaring didn¡¯t even bother with looking for a cave. Since there probably weren¡¯t any caves to take over next to the ranch, Ursaring took the matter into her own hands. While her children played and chased around the pokemon on his ranch, Ursaring spent her time building her family a place to settle down.

    Ethan had checked on her from time to time, witnessing a plethora of high level moves being used not for battle, but for building. It appeared that Ursaring was no slouch when it came to knowing a vast array of moves and their uses in and outside of battle. When he stopped by to check on her, off near the outskirts of his meadow in between the gated entrance and the pond near the fence, Ursaring displayed a precise and powerful use of what Ethan assumed to be Stone Edge. Ten to twenty-foot spires of stone pressed through the flat meadow, rising to the surface as they shoved chunks of grass and loose earth off to the side. She¡¯d created a jagged stone entrance which led into the hollowed out ground, flattened by thudding stomps of her feet in a Stomping Tantrum.

    She was terraforming a small section of his land, and it was so otherworldly to witness that Ethan spent a good portion of his days watching her work.

    But, that all happened in the past. Currently, Ethan and Nurse Joy stood on his patio and gazed off toward the brand new cave. Nurse Joy had her arms full with her things as she released a heavy, reluctant sigh. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t think you need to worry too much about the defense of your ranch with an Ursaring around.¡± She turned to face him, arms encapsulating her large Silph Co bag which only let her eyes peek over the top. ¡°It¡¯s been a pleasure, Ethan. I¡¯ll fill out your paperwork about your new pokemons and get them registered to you once I return.¡±

    Ethan gave her an awkward one-armed hug, trying to get around the cumbersome bag. ¡°Feel free to stop by anytime. Today¡¯s a day of goodbyes it seems.¡±

    They both looked off to where Shuckle and Dunsparce conversed near his berry fields. Dunsparce was leaving today, and Ethan was worried about how Shuckle would react. His berry bud had been warned ahead of time, but today he¡¯d been dragging Dunsparce all across his ranch in a last ditch effort to spend time together.

    ¡°Shuckle will be fine, Ethan.¡±

    ¡°I hope so¡­ Well, let me not keep you from your work. By the way, Cynthia texted me asking me why I was keeping you so long¡­¡±

    ¡°Annnnd, that¡¯s my queue to leave. C¡¯mon Cleffy, take us home.¡± Nurse Joy refused to meet his eyes as she quickly reached out and held hands with Clefable. In the blink of an eye and a blipping of Teleport, Joyce Joy left his ranch.

    ¡°Paaachi!¡±

    Pachirisu sank to the ground from where he was hiding between the Oddish. He looked both happy and sad at the same time¡ªconflicting emotions. Ethan chuckled as he watched his squirrel¡¯s face morph from relief to nervousness.

    While Pachirusu and Pikachu had¡­ a complicated relationship. It seemed like his original friend couldn¡¯t decide whether or not to be glad that the tease was gone, or sad that his budding love interest was no longer around.

    Ethan narrowed his eyes at Pachirisu, then shrugged. He was a big boy. He could handle those emotions himself.

    Turning his head, Ethan stared at the spot which had been previously occupied by Joyce Joy. He would have liked to say that he wasn¡¯t surprised about being thrown under the bus and used as an excuse for an extended stay, but he wasn¡¯t. He wasn¡¯t angry about it, as Joyce had enjoyed her stay and deserved a vacation, but a heads up about being blamed would have been nice.

    Ethan spared a final glance to where Shuckle was now dragging Dunsparce through the berry fields and gave a silent prayer that things would work out later in the evening. It felt¡­ wrong not to be there for support, but he truly believed that Shuckle would make many friends throughout his time here. They would come and go, and he would have to learn to accept that. If Shuckle needed a shoulder to cry on later once everything was done, Ethan would be there for him. He¡¯d always be there for him.

    He headed inside through the patio door and sat down at his kitchen table. After grabbing and switching on the laptop, Ethan brought up his brand new webpage. Just like the many other websites he¡¯d perused during his time in the world of pokemon, his website looked straight out of the early 2000¡¯s. It wasn¡¯t fancy, but it was functional and showcased pictures of his ranch which swapped every fifteen seconds. Joyce had helped with some of them, as he wanted some pictures of himself hanging out with his pokemon, and he thought that it had turned out well.

    The one thing that always confused Ethan was the fact that this world had technology such as the Healing Machine, which was apparently outdated according to Joyce, but still had websites akin to a Myspace page.

    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    Ethan shook his head as he stared at the singular green button on his administrator page that would enable the sign ups and took a deep breath before clicking it. He was officially open for business and would get a text message whenever someone signed up so that he could go over the contract with the interested party.

    He didn¡¯t have any advertisements, but he was registered as an official Sinnoh Pok¨¦mon League Breeder, Tutor, and Daycare provider. If anyone visited the League''s official website to find his services, they would find a link to his own website listed among all the others. Unlike when he first started, he wanted a slow and steady trickle of trainers. If he was being honest with himself, the fact that he didn¡¯t fail in teaching any of the pokemon from before was a miracle. He didn¡¯t know what he was doing, and would feel much better about tutoring one or two pokemon at a time. For his daycare, he was more than willing to take a handful, depending on the pokemon in question of course.

    But breeding¡­ His style of breeding was going to be a lot to take in. For one, he didn¡¯t want to ¡®force¡¯ or ¡®coerce¡¯ a pair of pokemon to make an egg. Ethan wasn¡¯t planning to specialize in any specific pokemon either. He would offer a place for pokemon to settle down and raise their children. He would even be the middleman of finding a trainer who he deemed worthy of raising one of his eggs or baby pokemon.

    According to what he learned, most pokemon knew that being under a trainer would strengthen them and keep them fed, safe, and oftentimes happy. He would make sure that any pokemon he would be selling or potentially giving away, would be in the right hands. It didn¡¯t matter if they offered him ten million pokedollars. He would say no if they weren¡¯t the right fit.

    This would piss off a lot of people, but he wasn¡¯t willing to budge on the details... Unless a trainer had two pokemon who signed up to stay and the pokemon themselves wanted to make an egg. Similar to the games he played. In that case, Ethan would host the couple and make sure they had peace and quiet while raising their young.

    For many trainers, their carrying capacity was the largest limiting factor of their journey. Most trainers didn¡¯t have a pasture or ranch that could hold onto their ¡®extra¡¯ pokemon. They usually got their six, then stuck with those unless they didn¡¯t mesh well, or wanted to split ways¡ª-Similar to Smeargle¡¯s situation.

    When the trainer¡¯s pokemon fancied one another, whether that be for their strength or personality, and wanted to have a baby or egg, it would most likely be to the detriment of the trainer. Although an egg doesn¡¯t count for carrying capacity, a baby pokemon does. Ethan was looking to zero in on this market, as it appeared that not many of the breeding ranches or daycares operated this way.

    After spending half an hour to make sure his website was functional by sending in his own contract to himself and getting a text in return, making sure the contracts were solid without too many loopholes, and that the hyperlink to his website from the Official League page worked, Ethan checked the time and sighed.

    Walking outside, Ethan bounced down his steps and walked off toward the entrance to his ranch. After passing by Shuckle¡¯s den and the training field, Ethan found himself at the campsite and ran into Shuckle and Dunsparce, who were already waiting for Dunsparce¡¯s trainer.

    Dunsparce looked excited but was obviously trying to hide his emotions as they would upset his newest friend. Shuckle twisted and knotted his arms and legs as they roiled and shifted from nerves. He frequently looked from the entrance to the ranch to Dunsparce with a hint of fear.

    Ethan snuck up behind his berry bud and knelt down. ¡°Shuckle.¡± Ethan said softly.

    ¡°Shu?!¡± With a solid one inch jolt of shock and a blue flaring Withdraw, Shuckle was spooked.

    ¡°Dunsparce, give us a minute please?¡± He asked, and Dunsparce nodded and wiggled his way closer to the entrance. His wings were flipping and flapping in anticipation for his trainer''s arrival. They would be reunited after well over a week separated.

    Shuckle¡¯s head poked out of his shell, now facing Ethan as he turned around within. Ethan gently rubbed his head as he flashed a melancholic smile. ¡°I know you¡¯re scared, sad, and worried¡­¡±

    Shuckle nodded slowly as his eyes began to glisten and his body began to shake.

    ¡°It¡¯s hard to see a friend go. You¡¯re young, and this was probably your first true friend other than me, right?¡± Shuckle nodded as he made gurgling sounds of sadness. ¡°Now, I know you still don¡¯t know much about me. So, I will tell you something special. I¡¯m pretty old.¡± Ethan grinned, and Shuckle snorted a little from laughter.

    ¡°I¡¯m twenty-eight¡ªNo, Twenty-nine years old now, and you¡¯re three months old. There are twelve months in a year. So, I have been alive one-hundred and sixteen of your lifetimes. I have seen friends come and go. I¡¯ve lost everyone I ever knew, actually. My family, friends, acquaintances¡ªEveryone is gone and I will never see them again.¡± Ethan stared deep into Shuckle¡¯s eyes, which were wide from shock by this sudden revelation. ¡°But look at me. I am still happy. There are always hard times in your life, but you can rest assured that I will always be here for you. I will never leave you until the day I die. Plus, maybe this won¡¯t be the last time you and Dunsparce see one another. Don¡¯t watch him leave with sadness, but watch him go with happiness, as he is reuniting with his version of me¡ªHis trainer.¡±

    Shuckle tore his gaze away to stare at the restless Dunsparce, whose eyes were locked onto the entrance. ¡°Put yourself in his shoes. It would be like being away from me, Pachirisu, Smeargle, Chatot, and all the others for a week while being surrounded by strangers. He wants to rejoin his family, and you should be glad your friend is going to be happy.¡±

    Ethan shoved Shuckle¡¯s shell forward, eliciting a surprise. ¡°Shu?!¡±

    ¡°Now, go and spend your final moments together with joy. Thank him for being your friend and for being nice to you. Remind him that you will still be his friend even if he is gone. Say your goodbyes, because you won¡¯t always get the chance. Trust me, I know.¡±

    Shuckle nodded, renewed with vigor, then trudged forward a few steps. He turned to look over his shoulder at Ethan, and found him speed walking off into the berry fields. Shuckle¡¯s watery eyes lingered when he caught the sight of Ethan rubbing his tears away.

    His trainer was sad.

 Chapter 46

    After a few minutes alone in the berry fields and lots of emotional turmoil, Ethan walked back toward Shuckle and Dunsparce. It was perfect timing too, as Dunsparce¡¯s trainer, Melany, could be seen speed walking up the path with a giant smile and a wave at the friend she left behind.

    Dunsparce flapped his wings excitedly, then launched himself forward to glide into her welcoming arms¡ªunable to wait another moment to be reunited with his trainer. Melany, knowing her pokemon well, snatched him out of the air and twirled him around, carrying his forward momentum into something much less damaging.

    Ethan made it to Shuckle¡¯s side, the sound of his footfalls causing his red-shelled friend to gaze upwards at him. Ethan wiped his red eyes once, sniffed, then put on a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me. Look at them. I¡¯m fine, Shuckle.¡± Ethan used his foot to gently turn Shuckle¡¯s concerned face forward.

    Shuckle watched the scene before him. The joy, happiness, and relief all bundled up together. He was worried, sad, and afraid, but this was a good thing. Just like Ethan said. His eyes blurred as tears formed, but he sniffled and never averted his eyes¡ªfor he was not crying for Dunsparce¡­ he was crying, watching something Ethan will never get to do.

    With another nudge, Ethan spoke to his friend. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s send him on his way. Stay strong, be happy for him.¡±

    With slow, shaky steps, Shuckle pulled his red shell forward as Ethan walked slowly by his side. When they drew near, Melany and Dunsparce, who had just finished twirling, looked toward them with smiles. ¡°Melany, Dunsparce has been a wonderful guest. I¡¯d be more than happy to have him visit or stay whenever you need. He¡¯s done much more than just relax, he made a lifelong friend.¡± Ethan looked down to Shuckle, watching his berry-bud lock up.

    ¡°Shuuuckle.¡±

    Melany, still with her giant smile, knelt down to be face to face with Shuckle. ¡°Why, hello there! I¡¯ve only seen one other Shuckle before! Your kind are very rare! Was Dunsparce nice to you?¡±

    Shuckle looked up to Ethan for help, but Ethan just gazed back with a slight smile. He turned forward and nodded slowly.

    ¡°Dunnnn. Dun-Dun-Sparce.¡± Dunsparce came forward and gently headbutted Shuckle, who teared up once again. Then, he wrapped his yellow limbs around his first poke-friend, and embraced him in a hug.

    Ethan walked to Melany¡¯s side and whispered. ¡°Shuckle is young. Dunsparce is his first real friend. This is his first time having to say goodbye. I know it may sound rude, but let¡¯s not drag this out longer than it has to be.¡±

    Melany nodded as she rose up from her crouch. ¡°Don¡¯t sweat it. We have places to be, gyms to conquer. Was there anything special I need to know?¡± She wiggled her eyebrows as she turned to face him. Then, she paused. ¡°You okay? Your eyes are red.¡±

    With a wave, Ethan carried on. ¡°No eggs. Your Dunsparce was hanging out babysitting on his own volition. He was a perfect guest. Do make sure to stop by again after your journey. I¡¯d love to see how much he¡¯ll grow.¡±

    ¡°Will do.¡± She looked down to the pokemon who were just now separating. ¡°C¡¯mon, Dunsparce! Let¡¯s get moving on! We got to challenge Gardenia!¡± Melany opened up her blue jacket, revealing five pokeballs lining the inside of her vest. She grabbed two of them, using one to return Dunsparce and using the other to release a pokemon Ethan had never seen before.

    A four and half foot tall¡­ Sheep? Ram? Ram, probably, judging by its very long, brown horns atop its head, appeared before him. It was spotted, mostly white with blotches of brown marking up its body. And man, did it look fluffy. Around its neck, a large bulb of grayish wool wrapped around the ram¡¯s head, hiding two miniature spikes which looked like tusks.

    Seeing Ethan inspecting her pokemon from head to toe, Melany asked. ¡°Never seen a Dubwool before?¡±

    With a shake of the head, Ethan answered. ¡°Never. Haven''t even heard of them. What region is¡­ he¡­? From?¡±

    Melany rubbed her nose, proud of her pokemon. ¡°Galar! It¡¯s a long ways away from Sinnoh, but my aunt knew a person who knew a person. You know how it is. Dubwools no Mareep either! He packs a punch! Also, he¡¯s comfy to ride!¡±

    Dubwool huffed and stuck out his chest, relishing in the praise. Melany hopped on, mounting the ram and gripped the horns, steering him back toward the path. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll be off. I paid in full when I dropped Dunsparce off, yeah?¡±

    Ethan smiled. ¡°That you did. Good luck on your journey!¡±

    ¡°Depending on how my talks with Dunsparce goes, I¡¯ll see about using your services again. See ya! Hiyah!¡± Melany mockingly kicked her Dubwool¡¯s fluffy fur, to little to no effect as they just bounced off the fluff. Dubwool rolled his eyes, but sauntered off down the path, slowly.

    What was obviously meant as a quick and swift goodbye, ended up being a solid fifteen seconds of Ethan and Shuckle watching Melany slowly ride off atop her ram.

    When they were both out of sight, Ethan looked down to Shuckle. ¡°How are you feeling?¡±

    Shuckle met his eyes and tried to smile, but it was forced. Ethan nodded, picked up his friend, then walked off toward the house. ¡°I may not be able to speak pokemon. But, I understand.¡±

    Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

    <hr>

    After spending some quality time with Shuckle and truly making sure he was going to be okay, Ethan let him out to go play with Munchlax, who had been surprisingly easy going with all the pokemon on the ranch, and the Teddiursa who rough-housed under the watchful eye of mama.

    His berry bud was still a little bit sulky, but it was to be expected.

    Pachirisu and Chatot were off at the training field having light spars. Which Ethan had demanded¡ªhealing machine or not. They both didn¡¯t want to go out and prove themselves the strongest, but they definitely wanted to prove that they were stronger than the other. It was healthy competitiveness, and Ethan was only occasionally checking in. Once they asked him for training or more help, he¡¯d be happy to help. But for now, they wanted to test their limits by themselves.

    It was late in the afternoon, right after dinner, as Ethan sat on his patio watching the Oddish, when Ursaring exited her cave with a glare. Ethan raised a brow in her direction, but from well over a hundred meters away, big mama didn¡¯t notice. She turned and squared her shoulders, just watching the edge of the forest with intent focus.

    By this point in time, Ethan had risen and began making his way over. Ursaring had been doing her own thing these past few days, not having much time to bond with him, but this was definitely something concerning.

    As he approached, from the direction Ursaring glared, a familiar pokemon strolled out of the forest. Gardevoir floated out into the meadow, eyes locked onto Ursaring with an ethereal purple glow.

    Seeing this, Ethan moved his walk into a jog and waved his hands about. ¡°Woah! Hold up! Hold up! No fighting!¡±

    Both of them spared him nothing but a glance before glaring at one another again. Then, without looking away, Gardevoir spoke into his mind. Her calm, serene voice was a weird juxtaposition to her current battle ready stance. ¡°Kind one. Be careful around this mother. She is dangerous and has the tendency to use brute force when trying to expand her borders.¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes. Dangerous she is, but she is staying here. I¡¯m now her trainer. So please, stop with the psychic eyes of death. Ursaring, do not fight this Gardevoir. Any pokemon who comes here will be treated with kindness, not with threats. We aren¡¯t strangers, we¡¯ve met several times before.¡± Ethan made it to Ursaring¡¯s side and stood in front of her, much to her displeasure.

    Gardevoir floated ten meters away, not willing to come any closer due to potential hostilities.

    There was a tense silence as the sun overhead cast the meadow into an orange hued battleground. The whimsically blowing wind ruffled the top of the tall grass, creating a beautiful ambiance for what seemed like impending violence.

    ¡°Teddi?¡±

    Ursaring whipped her head around, locking onto the small, curious form of one of the Teddiursa. It sucked on its hand and it looked between Ethan, Gardevoir, and his mother. Ursaring abandoned all hostilities, stomping over toward Teddiursa to shoo him back into the cave. Out around the corner of said cave, the noodly head of Shuckle and the noggin of Teddiursa¡¯s sister stuck outwards, spying on the ongoings on the meadow.

    Gardevoir relaxed slightly, losing the glow of her eyes and landing on the soft grass. She watched the ongoing family matter, then turned to Ethan. ¡°I require your services.¡±

    Ethan blinked, then gazed back at the floating psychic. ¡°My services?¡±

    With a nod and a glance toward Ursaring, her eyes flared. Then, with a pop, a Ralts appeared in mid air and dropped onto the ground onto their butt. The Ralts stood with a frown, wiped its bottom, then looked up at Ethan with narrowed eyes. It stuck up its nose haughtily, then spoke into his mind.

    ¡°Ah, so it is you who basks in my presence, bringing with you the bitter stench of past transgressions. I recognize you, wretched soul, who once was the cause of inflicted pain and anguish upon me. Your presence here is an audacious display of arrogance, as if time could erase the scars you''ve left behind. Do not think for a moment that I have forgotten the suffering you wrought. I stand before you now, not as a victim, but as a reminder of your failures¡ªa testament to the power and resilience that you could never hope to break. Tread carefully, for this encounter will not end as it did before. I am strong of will and of heart, and one such as you, with your trifling power, could hold no sway over me.¡±

    Gardevoir smacked the side of the Ralt¡¯s head, earning Ethan a mental, childish, ¡°Ow!¡±

    ¡°I require your services. I wish for you to watch upon this one while the dealings with the distorted are being handled. This one is a handful, and I cannot leave her alone. Also, pay her words no mind, as she is referring to the punishment she received upon reading your surface thoughts. She has a vast vocabulary and likes to use it as a weapon.¡± Gardevoir explained as she ignored the feeble little punches to her shin, the Ralts giving it all she had in a cute display of a tantrum.

    Ethan sighed. ¡°Does she know the rules?¡±

    Ralts abandoned her wrath, and turned to raise her nose up at him. ¡°You may speak your hollow words to the one which you refer to. I exist and am of able body and of prodigious mind to speak for myself. I acknowledge the laws of your diminutive domain, however insignificant they may be in the grand scheme of power and influence. While your realm may be small, its rules are yours to command, and I shall respect them as a courtesy, though they hold little sway beyond your narrow borders.¡±

    Ethan raised an eyebrow as he parsed through the regal-speak. He turned to Gardevoir. ¡°I do not do this for free for everyone who comes by.¡±

    Gardevoir nodded her understanding. ¡°When I return, I shall bring a gift of the forest worthy and useful to you. It has no use to us, but to you, it will be put to work.¡±

    Ethan looked to the Ralts who stood defiantly in front of him. ¡°If you cause any trouble, I¡¯m going to tell Gardevoir everything you did while in my care.¡±

    ¡°It appears that you have chosen to embrace the role of a tattletale, divulging secrets with all the grace of a servile informant.¡±

    ¡°Yup.¡± Ethan said with a grin¡ªno shame at all. He turned to Gardevoir and nodded once. ¡°I¡¯ll watch her. Do you know how long you¡¯ll be?¡±

    ¡°I do not know. But, it won¡¯t be long. Take care of her as you would your own, and you will have my thanks. Goodbye, kind one.¡± Then, without any more words, Gardevoir blinked out of existence.

    Ethan stared into the air where she previously stood, before feeling a tugging on his pants.

    Ralts stared up into his eyes. ¡°I require sustenance.¡±

 Chapter 47

    All things considered, Ralts wasn¡¯t turning out to be as bad to babysit as he originally thought. Yes, her quite snobby and regally dignified way of speaking was grating, but she was more than content to be allowed to wander and explore both his home and ranch.

    As it was later in the evening, Ethan was relaxing on his couch as he watched some kind of battle channel. It wasn¡¯t anything overly impressive, just notable battles from either gym challenges or random tournaments. Though, it was very detailed. Profile pictures and stats for each trainer and pokemon flashed on screen, reminiscent of ESPN showing the stats of Earth¡¯s sports players.

    With the faint blip of Teleport, Ralts appeared on her butt in front of him. She stood with a faint audible ¡°Ral¡±, wiped herself down, then jumped up to scramble onto the sofa, kicking and flailing her legs as she heaved herself up with her tiny arms. Ethan raised an eyebrow as he sipped from a Sitrus smoothie. ¡°Done exploring my home?¡±

    Ralts plopped herself down next to him. ¡°To wander your halls is to unveil the essence of your domain, as if each corner and crevice whispers secrets meant only for those bold enough to seek them.¡± She finished as she pulled out a very familiar but forgotten item and opened it like a book on her small lap.

    Ethan was so surprised at the sight of his old Earth wallet that he froze with his cup up at his lips. Ralts ran her hands across the old, worn leather and pulled out several useless business cards and his now defunct driver''s license.

    ¡°Hmm. In the shadows of your home, I seem to have uncovered relics of a forgotten past¡ªitems worn with age, yet rich with the weight of untold stories, quietly lingering where time left them behind. Oh?¡± Ralts pulled out a small rectangular photo from one of the slots, and it was then that Ethan finally moved. He hurriedly snatched the small, precious photo out of her grasp and shoved it into his pocket.

    Ralts narrowed her eyes as she stared at her now empty hands, then slid her accusatory gaze to Ethan. He took a deep breath, then ignored her. ¡°Don¡¯t ask.¡±

    She ¡®Hmphed!¡± in his mind, then awkwardly slid off the couch. She gave him a curious glance, not one of indignation¡ªalmost as if she could peer past his facade. ¡°I take my leave. I shall find the maestro who twists the simplest fare into a masterpiece.¡±

    Ethan sighed in relief as she waddled a few feet before blipping with yet another Teleport. After parsing her words, he assumed she was going to go find Shuckle who¡¯d been conned by sweet and regal words to share his berry juice earlier when the two had met. He squeezed the small photo in his pocket as his heart felt heavy.

    To distract himself, Ethan let go of the small photo and grabbed the two pokeballs in his pocket. One of them was Ursaring¡¯s worn Ultra Ball, and the other was his formerly last unused pokeball. He clicked the button, releasing the youngest and newest member of his family.

    ¡°Emol?¡± Emolga yawned as she appeared in his lap. She looked around, finding nobody but Ethan, then smiled and crawled up his chest. Knowing what she wanted, he smiled as he gently played with Emolga, dropping her from several feet in the air to have her glide and spin in circles as she giggled and landed in his lap.

    After a solid fifteen minutes of playing ¡®throw the Emolga¡¯, she tuckered out and fell asleep. Playing with her like that was a good way for her to learn how to control her body and whatever weird poke-magic allowed her to fly under her own power. They hadn¡¯t gotten to the flight part yet, only gliding down, but baby-steps for a literal baby pokemon sounded like a solid plan.

    He returned her to her pokeball and then looked to the ceiling while drowning out whatever sounds came from the television. His heart was still taut and weary, and the feeling wasn¡¯t going away. He knew he had some trauma or problems to take care of, but he didn¡¯t really know a good¡ªhealthy way to go about fixing them.

    He knew he was the kind of person to jump into work to escape the realities of life. He¡¯d done it time and time again, without fail; Back on Earth and here.

    Find yourself stuck in the world of pokemon? Can¡¯t find help? Well, let¡¯s go ahead and plant several hundred trees to keep yourself busy and sane. The League meets with you and knows of your past? Good, hopefully they ignore you specifically so they can deal with all the messed up and horrible people, mythical beings capable of changing the world at their whims, and the knowledge of ¡®The Chosen One Ash¡¯. Stressed? Well, l suppose I¡¯ll go back to where I feel safe and immediately jump into some more work I¡¯m not actually prepared for.

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

    Finding something to do to tear his mind away from his problems wasn¡¯t healthy, but it worked. Maybe too well. He¡¯d nearly had an episode in front of Shuckle earlier¡­ That couldn¡¯t happen. He needed to be his rock¡¯s rock.

    His new reality was both a blessing and a curse. Deep down, he knew he was never going back to Earth. While yes, he could hypothetically seek out the llama god Arceus and plead his case up atop the Spear Pillar or something, but he wasn¡¯t¡­ he couldn¡¯t do that. He wasn¡¯t capable of the feat. Nor did he think he would ever be.

    Life on Earth wasn¡¯t the greatest, but it wasn¡¯t bad. He had a stable job he enjoyed, friends, acquaintances, family¡­ Family hurt the most. Thank god¡ªor Arceus, he wasn¡¯t sure¡ªthat he didn¡¯t have his own family; A wife, child, or anything like that. If that had been the case¡­ Well, it¡¯s best not to dwell on hypotheticals.

    A tear strolled down his cheek as he lazily watched a commercial which flickered on the screen. He couldn¡¯t help but think of his mom as his tears flowed freely and his throat tightened. How she must have felt knowing that her son is gone, probably assumed dead. His mother was a strong-willed woman who would stop at nothing until he was found. Even if years passed, she would always believe he was alive, and that was the worst part¡­

    Because he would never see her again.

    He choked in his quiet sobs, as to not disturb his pokemon as the thoughts continued.

    His mother would be left searching for someone who couldn¡¯t be found because they weren¡¯t even on the same planet or fucking dimension!

    Ethan slammed his fist into the nearby cushion, then leaned forward to cover his face in his hands as he shook.

    Grief had settled over him like an indescribable weight, an endless void that stretched out into time. His heart hurt. It throbbed and thudded, filling his ears and drowning out the television. The ache of absence, the silence where laughter had once filled the memories. His life seemed haunted by them, each one a painful reminder of the irreplaceable bond that had been severed.

    What made his grief even worse was the knowing permanence of that separation¡ªthe realization that he would never see, hear, or hold his mother again in this life. The finality of it all cut the deepest, leaving him with only the fragments of moments he had once taken for granted. Random calls to ask how he was doing after a long day of work, if he had finally found a girlfriend or something more, the invitations to drive down for dinner which he declined. Yet, in the sorrowful memories, there lingered love¡ªthe eternal connection that not even this separation could fully erase, though the absence of her presence would always be felt. His grief became both the pain of loss and the testament to the depth of that love.

    Ethan shuddered as he took out the crumpled picture from his pocket and stared at it through bleary eyes. A picture of Ethan and his mom on his twenty-first birthday out at a fancy bar. They were both drunk as all hell, but they smiled and laughed as a stranger took the photo. He flattened the crumpled picture out as best as he could, then stuffed it gently back into his old and worn leather wallet so that he could see it whenever it opened.

    Before he even realized it, Ethan was in his bed, curled up in a ball as he cried himself to sleep.

    <hr>

    It was times like these where Ralts wished she couldn¡¯t feel emotions. Her temporary Human caretaker was one of the most emotional beings she had ever met. During her brief meetings with the man called Ethan, he was a shining beacon. None of his emotions were ever muted, just as her mother had warned. Oftentimes, he was either content, worried, or filled with love for pokemon. Bearable feelings, quite nice to experience, all things considered.

    But now? Now, he was a deep lake filled with so much grief that she couldn¡¯t stop herself from weeping as she sat on the steps of his humble home, too afraid to get closer to the beacon of pure anguish inside. She did not know who that other human in that picture was, but she knew that they were the cause of his unceasing torment. She had learned her lesson of prying into his mind, and now she knew the dangers. Her mother¡¯s warning made complete sense. If she peeked beneath the fold right now, she¡¯d drown in his seemingly endless desolation.

    She wanted his outburst to end, but she could do nothing for him. Her mother could ease him, but she wasn¡¯t strong enough. Not yet.

    ¡°Why are you crying?¡± A gentle, masculine voice asked.

    Ralts wiped her eyes as she gazed down upon the waking Oddish and Gloom. The Gloom, leader of his coven, sauntered forward. A frown marred his normally aloof face as he gazed up at her, the moon overhead reflecting off his large, open eyes. Ralts waved him away with as much grace as she could manage. ¡°Fret not, for these tears are of another. I shed them not for my own grief, but as a tribute to a sorrow that is not my own. They are a reflection of the pain I have witnessed, a silent testament to empathy, and a now shared burden.¡±

    The Gloom¡¯s eyes narrowed, but he eventually nodded. ¡°You are safe here.¡±

    ¡°I know¡­¡± She replied. A final tear fell as she felt Ethan fall asleep.

 Chapter 48

    Slowly opening his eyes to stare at the ceiling of his small cozy room, Ethan took a deep breath as he took in the start of a new day. The rustling of leaves and the oncoming chill of the autumn wind was the first indication that things had started to change. Some for the better, some for the worst.

    Today marked a week since his¡­ meltdown. His mental health had improved. Acknowledging the past and what was to come had caused a sense of acceptance to take hold in his heart. He would still be sad, probably for the rest of his life, but instead of a sucking void of grief, it was a dull reminder of what was.

    After releasing a sigh, Ethan rolled out of bed, did his morning routine, then prepared breakfast for his new family. With the sounds of pots, pans, and sloshing water, most of the pokemon had woken already, but some he¡¯d have to go fetch¡ªLike Shuckle, who was now alone in his den. The first to greet him, like most mornings, was Munchlax. The rotund ball of dark blue fur was always up and ready for his morning meal, and during this past week he¡¯d mixed in with the ongoings of the ranch seamlessly.

    Ethan spared the glutton a glance and a smile as he prepared breakfast. ¡°Go ahead and wake Shuckle while I cook. I¡¯ll slip you an extra berry for a reward.¡±

    ¡®Extra berry¡¯ was all the incentive Munchlax needed for most things, so with a cheerful nod and deceptively quick hustle, he was out the door with a mission.

    Then, not a second later, two blips of Teleport announced the arrival of the next pair of pokemon. The ever regal Ralts and her newly acquired best friend Smeargle. The two had, unsurprisingly, gotten along like two peas in a pod. For Smeargle, finishing up his Sketch of Teleport had been a massive weight lifted from his shoulders. Apparently, when Smeargle decided to learn a move from Sketch, he was unable to learn another until he finished. So, for the past however many weeks or months, he¡¯d been stuck. The gentle artist had never smiled much, but nowadays, he was a bundle of happiness and contentment.

    Ralts hadn¡¯t instantly noticed Smeargle for the fine pokemon that he was, a connoisseur of fine arts, but given her proclivities she¡¯d attached herself to his hip¡ªmostly bothering him for paintings of herself¡­ but Ethan wasn¡¯t going to judge. They both won out on the exchange.

    The little psychic plopped herself down onto the table as she patiently waited for her food and Smeargle joined his side to help prepare breakfast for everyone. Ethan ran a hand over the artist''s beret-like head and continued onwards, thinking about the future.

    This was the last free-day they had before an important guest was due to arrive. On his website, he had a section for contacting his ¡®business¡¯. Really, it was just his email and phone number. A few days earlier, someone reached out about something he hadn¡¯t shared with anybody but Nurse Joy¡ªHis Oddish. The man in question was making a long trip just to come and inspect the budding weeds and make sure that they turned out hearty and healthy.

    As Ethan blended some berries, a dim, looming shadow and a large thunk caused him to sigh as he turned to face the nearby window. Covering the pane of glass was the splayed form of Pachirisu. His narrowed eyes and puffy yellow cheeks squished against the window with a glare. Ethan took a step away, held his hands out placatingly, then spun in a circle. Pachirisu¡¯s already narrowed eyes turned into squints as he inspected Ethan head to toe. ¡°She¡¯s sitting on the table.¡± Ethan scoffed as he went back to cooking.

    His first friend had not taken kindly to seeing Ralts teleport onto his right shoulder earlier in the week. Since Ethan hadn¡¯t told the little psychic to move immediately, he¡¯d been in Pachirisu¡¯s bad graces. While he knew that Pachirisu and Chatot took his right shoulder spot with some seriousness, it had apparently spiraled out of control.

    Pachirisu, still unsure if Ethan had apparently betrayed him again by relinquishing his shoulder for a ride, awkwardly peeled off the glass window and slid down out of view. Then, a second later, his face shot back up and plastered itself onto the glass once again with a glare, double checking to see if anything changed since he left.

    The sound of the open door and pattering of feet announced Munchlax¡¯s arrival from his mighty quest. He held Shuckle into the air like a prized possession as he cheered. ¡°Munch-Munch-Munch!¡±

    ¡°Shuuuu!¡± Shuckle squealed with glee as he flailed his yellow limbs, joining in on the fun.

    The two had become quick friends after Munchlax quickly learned that Shuckle was the one and only guardian of berries. Ethan pretended to look the other way when he found his berry bud sneaking Munchlax some extra berries throughout the day. The over-eater was filling the void Dunsparce had left behind, and Ethan couldn¡¯t bring himself to stop smiling when he spotted them out in the fields.

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot! ?¡± Chatot fluttered into the open door with a song, then righted herself onto the table next to Ralts, who murmured her name a few times in greeting.

    The two of them had also grown closer. Similar to the situation with Smeargle and Shuckle, the whimsical artist and the maestro of berries, Chatot was the melodious musical muse. It was rare, but he could sometimes hear the little psychic singing up on his roof with Chatot. While Chatot was using human-words, Ralts just said her name over and over again. It made him curious, and he wondered if Ralts was translating the words one for one or not.

    After Ethan fed the pokemon and himself, he clapped to alert everyone around the table. With all eyes on him, Ethan laid out his plans for the day. ¡°So! Today is a big day. Today, I am taking a small trip to Eterna City. This means I will be gone for a few hours.¡±

    Ethan slid his gaze around the table, taking in the reactions. Shuckle looked like someone had told him the world was ending, Smeargle was already in on the plan, Chatot tilted her head, Pachirisu, who had joined them earlier looked worried, and the rest looked on in confusion.

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    ¡°I am allowed to take six of you with me. One of them will be Smeargle, as he is the one Teleporting me there, and the second will be Ralts as I have promised to watch over her. The other four slots¡­ Well, who wants to come and see a human city?¡± Ethan said with a wry smile as he witnessed the explosion of poke-speak erupt around him.

    After a solid fifteen minutes of rapturous discussion, it was decided that the group that coming along for his much needed shopping spree would be Smeargle, Ralts, Pachirisu, Emolga, who was still in her pokeball, Shuckle, and Chatot. Munchlax wanted to come, but as he wasn¡¯t officially his pokemon, he was going to be hard to keep an eye on. Ralts also wasn¡¯t his pokemon, but having her ride along on his left shoulder wouldn¡¯t be too big of an issue, and she dearly wanted to visit ¡®The lands of humans; a realm both fragile and fleeting, where ambition dances with folly beneath the shadow of time.¡¯ Whatever that meant.

    After quickly making sure that his packages of online orders were waiting for him at the Pokemon Center, letting Ursaring know that she was in charge and on guard duty, and making sure that the left behind pokemon were going to be okay, Ethan stood on his Patio with a belt full of pokeballs and an eager Smeargle and grinning Ralts.

    He raised a hand and cupped Ralts head to make sure she wasn¡¯t going to fly off his shoulder mid teleport, then held Smeargle¡¯s hand. ¡°Let¡¯s not waste any time. Smeargle, Teleport!¡±

    Ethan¡¯s vision shrank down into pinpoints as the vicious swirls of colors overtook his eyes. He was squished, twirled, stretched, then hit by an enormous, throbbing headache as he appeared in front of a very familiar Pokemon Center.

    While the aftereffects of teleporting weren''t as bad as it was previously, when he had been saved by the rangers, it was still a terrible decision to teleport right after breakfast¡­.

    After spewing on the grass alongside Smeargle, much to Ralts and some of the nearby passerby¡¯s disdain and pity, Ethan stood up and dusted himself and Smeargle off. ¡°Okay. Long distance still sucks.¡±

    They had, of course, done some trial teleports around the ranch, but distance made the slightly discomforting experience a living hell.

    ¡°On the bright side, we can pick up all of your painting supplies. You earned it. Are you going to be okay for a return trip?¡±

    Smeargle used his tail as a napkin to wipe his face then gave Ethan a shaky thumbs up.

    ¡°Return for now, take a rest, you earned it,¡± Ethan said, before unclipping Smeargle¡¯s Great Ball and returning him.

    As he closed his eyes and took a few steady breaths, Ralts spoke in his mind. ¡°This¡­ This is a much larger place than anticipated.¡±

    Mildly shocked by her lack of decorated speech, Ethan glanced to his shoulder to find Ralts enthralled. She gazed upon the people going about their day, the towering buildings of the city, and the pokemon walking alongside their trainers from beneath her bang-like head. From his vantage point, he could see her eyes clearly¡ªThey were pinkish-red. She excitedly tugged on his hair as she pointed frantically ahead, a large smile on her face. ¡°Look! Look!¡±

    Looking ahead, a fit woman around his age and a Gardevoir walked down the street. Ethan smiled at her excitement and complete change of attitude. ¡°You¡¯ll see a lot of pokemon out and about.¡±

    Suddenly, the Gardevoir¡¯s head whipped toward him, startling its trainer. Ralts waved energetically as the Gardevoir¡¯s wide and surprised eyes crinkled into one of joy. The Gardevoir gave Ralts a wave before pointing towards them for its trainers'' benefit. Ethan gave the woman a sheepish wave as realization dawned on her face. She gave Ralts a little wave before continuing off on their way.

    After letting Ralts observe around for another minute, he turned and walked towards the entrance to the Pokemon Center. ¡°Well, let''s go inside and pick up our stuff. We can also surprise Nurse Joy.¡±

    Inside was just as it was many moons before. People stood in lines, sat at the numerous PC¡¯s around the lobby, and wandered about. Ralts took everything in with ever-growing curiosity as he waited his turn in the queue. Once it was his turn, he asked the non-joy receptionist to let Joyce Joy know that he had arrived. After a minute, Joyce burst through the nearby doorway with an utterly surprised smile. ¡°Ethan! What are you doing here!? And who is this?¡±

    Ethan grinned as his surprise visit turned out to be an actual surprise. With his packages being stored here, he was worried that she would have gotten a heads up. ¡°Smeargle learned Teleport. I¡¯m here to pick up some much needed items and to surprise you. This is Ralts, I¡¯m watching over her for a while and since I was leaving, she had to come along.¡±

    Ralts looked Nurse Joy up and down one time before nodding with her hand cupping her chin. Her pinkish-red eyes flared purple, and Joyce¡¯s smile became forced. ¡°Well, she¡¯s certainly sophisticated.¡±

    ¡°That she is,¡± Ethan walked over to stand off to the side to not hold up the line. ¡°Do you happen to know where packages are stored for pickup?¡±

    After a quick walk through the back of the Pokemon Center, Joyce led Ethan and Ralts to a storage room filled with boxes and bags. The floor was sectioned off into squares with tape, indicating that each square was for separate purchases. After a quick gander, Joyce patted a smaller pile of boxes. ¡°This one¡¯s for you. I¡¯m glad you stopped by, but I have an unruly Primeape which needs a stern talking too. Keep in touch!¡±

    Ethan watched with a strained smile as Joyce speed walked out of the room, leaving them alone with their goods. He didn¡¯t know much about Mankeys and Primeapes, but getting one to accept healing sounded like a pain.

    After tearing through a few of his boxes, he found the item he was looking for. Even though it cost nearly half of his funds, a brilliantly white Silph Co storage bag was going to be a blessing for future purchases. It wasn¡¯t the cheapest of the bunch, but it was very close to it. After storing his other items, the main ones being a small Pokeball safe, Smeargle¡¯s art supplies, a wide array of seeds from other regions, a nice vest which would hold more than enough pokeballs for his needs, Ethan slunk out of the Pokemon Center and made his way towards where he remembered the PokeMart was located. After entering inside, he filled up his small trolley with a wide assortment of different grooming kits. Ralts asked questions about what each of the items they passed were, and he did his best to answer to the best of his abilities.

    At the counter, Ethan cringed as he spoke to the well-dressed cashier. He had made up his mind during this past week, and now it was time to seal the deal. ¡°I¡¯d like all of this and twenty-seven Poke balls please.¡±

    The cashier didn¡¯t even blink an eye or drop his small welcoming smile as he began counting pokeballs on top of the glass countertop for Ethan. These purchases would drop his account to next to nothing, but Ethan was committed. He wanted these grooming kits to be a perk for those pokemon who stayed at his ranch and an enticing incentive for trainers to pick him over the others. The pokeballs were for personal use and for the selling of pokemon in the future. He had a score of Oddish ready, and he was sure at least one of them would like to go out on a journey.

    As he left the store, Ralts asked yet another question. ¡°Why is that Glameow glaring at you?¡±

    A memory of a harsh Sand-Attack flashed before his eyes. Before his desperate deeds could be announced through telepathy, Ethan stormed off down the street.

 Chapter 49

    With another two hours to spare for his city outing, Ethan moved towards the small park he remembered from his original stay in Eterna City. Most of his pokemon had never seen a human city, and he wanted to spend some bonding time showing them what it was like.

    The park wasn¡¯t large, but it was functional for any age range. In the center, children filled a small colorful jungle gym, metallic slides, and sandbox. Off on benches, much like the one he sat on, parents chatted with one another as they stole glances to make sure their kids weren¡¯t creating trouble or running off. Several pokemon played with the children in games of tag, going down slides, or even building things in the sand. The most notable and unfamiliar pokemon was in the sand-pit. The pokemon itself appeared as a mound of sand, with a small red shovel sticking out of its head.

    Ralts physically recoiled upon seeing it, so Ethan did his due diligence to scan the pokemon with his phone. The PocketDex was invaluable.

    Sandygast - The Sand Heap Pokemon: Sandygast is a Ghost Pokemon who possesses a mound of sand. It can control other creatures by luring them to touch the shovel on its head, draining their life force. Sandygast grows larger by absorbing sand and debris, often using its eerie cries to draw in unsuspecting prey. When threatened, it can shift its form to hide or trap attackers in the sand.

    Instantly, Ethan felt alarmed. But as he looked back at the sandbox, the small mound-like pokemon gurgled with laughter as it helped a small girl, roughly four or five years old, complete her sand castle. The girl even grabbed the shovel off the top of Sandygast¡¯s head and used it to shovel more sand into her bucket before sticking it back where it belonged.

    Ethan let out a breath he didn¡¯t know he was holding before relaxing back into his seat. If nobody else was making a fuss over it, he doubted the young girl was in any trouble. Ralts was still tense on his shoulder, obviously wary about the pokemon. ¡°Do you know that pokemon?¡±

    Ralts shook her head, but kept her focus on Sandygast. ¡°No, but it is distorted. Did it escape the building of man?¡± She murmured.

    Not wanting to pry, Ethan left her to her observation. After looking around, he saw other people had released their pokemon. Some only had one out and about, and others had three or four. Seeing as he wouldn¡¯t be committing any social faux-pas, he released the rest of his family.

    As planned, Chatot was the first one to come out. While all of his personal pokemon were in the standard pokeballs, he always arranged them on his belt in a specific order. It was the order in which he captured them. Chatot appeared, scanned around, realized where she was, then fluttered off to perch atop the jungle-gym, much to the glee of the nearby children.

    A few of the parents looked from Chatot to Ethan, and seeing his reassuring smile, they returned to their conversations.

    Next out was Smeargle, who looked ten-thousand percent better than he had the last time he was out. He clasped a hand on Ethan''s thigh in thanks, then plopped himself down next to him on the bench. Before Ethan could release the next, Smeargle tugged on his shirt and pointed to the white Silph Co bag around his torso.

    ¡°Do you want to paint?¡± He asked, getting a nod and smile in return.

    Seeing as the artist earned his supplies, Ethan wasn¡¯t going to say no. After more than a few awkward attempts at pulling out the supplies from what Ethan was still going to call his magic bag, Smeargle was set-up for his relaxation.

    Next, came the pokemon who would need some time to acclimate themselves to their new environment. First, and the most likely not to make an enormous scene, was Pachirisu. He landed on the ground in front of Ethan on his hind legs. With a face full of awe, surprise, and wonder, he scanned around at all the people and pokemon out and about. ¡°Bet you¡¯ve never seen this many people before, have you?¡± Ethan joked, earning him a tiny nod in return. ¡°Go about and explore, play with some of the kids or pokemon. Just, no moves and no fighting. I¡¯ll be keeping my eye on you.¡±

    Pachirisu needed no further encouragement. He basically squealed his name as he charged forward, joining the game of tag being played by a group of kids, a Zigzagoon, and most surprisingly, an Eevee.

    Next out was Emolga, who landed in his lap and didn¡¯t seem bothered about where she was, only that he was there. She spared a glance around, disregarded everything, then climbed his chest to be thrown into the air for playtime. After a few throws, he signaled for a break to let out his final pokemon. Emolga, deciding that a two-second break was far too long, simply jumped off the bench and glided down in circles by herself, before climbing back up and repeating the motions again.

    When Shuckle appeared from his pokeball, he was in his shell. Ethan bent forward and picked up his berry bud, who was getting heavier by the day, and set him in his lap. ¡°It¡¯s okay Shuckle, just look around.¡±

    Ever so slowly, the yellow, noodle-like head peeked out of the vibrant red shell. Ethan watched as Shuckle¡¯s fearful face shifted to one of awe. His gummy jaws opened, gaping at the scene of pokemon and humans playing. He spotted Chatot singing to children, Pachirisu playing tag, and at Smearlge, Ethan, Emolga, and Ralts sitting on the bench.

    Ethan smiled and ran a hand down his shell. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t let you out if I thought you¡¯d be in danger. Well, unless I was in danger and needed my strong pokemon to defend me.¡± Ethan winked.

    ¡°Oh! A Shuckle!¡± A voice rang out from behind.

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    Shuckle retreated back into his shell as Ethan twisted around to see who spoke. Behind him, a young man, in his early twenties with long grayish-blue hair and a red trench coat, likely a trainer, smiled as he gazed over Ethan¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°He¡¯s very shy. It¡¯s his first time in a city.¡± Ethan explained as Ralts hopped off his shoulder to land on top of Shuckle. They murmured to each other as Ethan focused his attention on the trainer. By his side, a pokemon he was vaguely familiar with stood at attention. He knew its name, and its gender by its appearance, but didn¡¯t know much about it. Pyroar was a graceful lioness with brilliant blue sapphire eyes and had a long, trailing ponytail mane of red and yellow. Her tail flicked back and forth as she glanced around and up at her trainer.

    ¡°You don¡¯t see Shuckle¡¯s very often! I once wanted one for my team!¡± The trainer said as stuck his hands in his pockets. The man looked pleasant enough¡ªconfident for sure, given his posture, but not aggressive.

    ¡°I got lucky. Found him on my ranch snooping around my berries. Didn¡¯t I?¡± Ethan knocked on Shuckle¡¯s shell, earning a ¡°Shuuuu!¡± filled with embarrassment to echo outwards.

    ¡°You have quite a few rare pokemon. Smeargles aren¡¯t found in Sinnoh, Ralts are notoriously rare, Emolgas are nearly impossible to find, and Chatot¡¯s aren¡¯t usually something a trainer picks up.¡±

    Ethan shrugged and didn¡¯t feel like correcting the assumption that all of these pokemon were his. He turned back around to watch his pokemon play. ¡°Is that so? I¡¯m not a trainer. I don¡¯t really worry about strength or teams.¡±

    ¡°Not a trainer, I see. How did you do on your journey? What made you quit?¡± The tilting, questioning tone was putting Ethan¡¯s guard up. Why would some random trainer come up to him and ask these questions?

    ¡°I never went on one. I would say I would rank near the bottom when it comes to my strength in a one-on-one battle.¡± Ethan answered as Ralts shifted to look at Ethan with narrowed eye concern.

    ¡°Yet, you battled championed Cynthia?¡± The man walked around the bench to come into Ethan¡¯s view as he finished speaking.

    Ahh. It seems some of those videos have finally gotten around¡­ Ethan thought with a frown as he remembered the battle from the past. It wasn¡¯t a good showing on his part, not even close. It wasn¡¯t surprising that someone could recognise him from the video¡­ He still had his long hair and even wore the same clothes.

    ¡°She and I are acquainted, and it was a friendly spar. I¡¯m afraid I am here relaxing with my pokemon. So, I would prefer not to be grilled for information.¡± Ethan said, slightly forced to get the point across.

    To the trainer¡¯s credit, he did seem to let the topic go. ¡°I¡¯ve heard about you and saw the battle. When I saw you sitting here, I couldn¡¯t help but come over. You¡¯re still a Tutor, right? Do you have any openings?¡±

    Ethan flicked his gaze over and looked the man up and down. Now that he got a good look, the man was vaguely familiar. The style, at least. ¡°I have a website if you¡¯d like to register an appointment. Currently, I have openings. What was your name, again?¡±

    The man blinked and shifted some of the long hair out of his face. ¡°Tobias. I¡¯m tackling the gyms and hoping to challenge Cynthia at the Lily of the Valley at the end of this circuit. My team is quite capable, so we¡¯re mostly training while we kill time between gyms.¡±

    Ethan thought back to the games and tried to remember anybody named Tobias with a Pyroar. Nothing came to mind, but the nagging feeling that this was someone of importance stayed. ¡°Hmm, Tobias. I¡¯ll remember the name and watch out for it when I look over applicants. Out of curiosity, since you¡¯ve seen mine, which pokemon do you have?¡±

    Tobias patted his Pyroar on her back. ¡°I¡¯d like for Pyroar to get some tutoring. As for the rest of my team¡­ I¡¯d like to keep that a secret for the conference.¡±

    Although he wasn¡¯t too sure about when the conference was, Ethan had thought that this circuit had just started not too long ago. Either this guy was a very capable trainer, or his ego was out of this world. ¡°Sounds reasonable. Well, I¡¯ll look out for your name if you decide to accept the contract for tutoring.¡±

    Taking the polite dismissal with grace, Tobias nodded and went on his way. Ethan watched him leave before watching his pokemon play again. The nagging feeling that Tobais was someone he should have recognized was eating him alive, so he dialed up Looker.

    ¡°Looker speaking.¡±

    ¡°Hey Looker, random question. When we did that memory thing, do you remember anyone with the name Tobias?¡± Ethan craned his neck to hold the phone in the nook of his shoulder as he tossed Emolga up and down, smiling at her joy.

    There was silence on the other end of the call, and Ethan was growing worried. Not a second later, Looker finally responded. ¡°Yes. A man who fought and defeated Ash Ketchum in what you call the anime in the conference. He had¡­ two very powerful pokemon.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­¡± Was Ethan¡¯s brilliantly thought out response as the memories clicked into place. Tobias wasn¡¯t from the games. He was from the anime. He also had two legendary pokemon. If he was in Sinnoh and going for the win in the conference this year¡­ that meant¡­

    ¡°Well¡­ I just met him. Uhh, I thought Ash was in Hoenn? I looked him up on the computer.¡±

    ¡°Is he at your ranch right now?¡± Looker asked, no nonsense or care given to Ethan¡¯s other, probably more dire concern.

    ¡°I¡¯m not at my ranch,¡± Ethan said. ¡°I¡¯m in Eterna City. I was picking up some supplies. So, about Ash¡­¡±

    ¡°I have to go Ethan. Thank you for bringing this to my attention¡­¡±

    Ethan was about to complain, but Looker seemed to have heard his worried tone. ¡°If you looked at previous battle records, it wouldn¡¯t have recorded anything official from the off-season. Ash Ketchum is in Sinnoh.¡±

    *Click*

    Ethan kept the phone in the nook of his neck for a few seconds as he closed his eyes and sighed. He really didn¡¯t want to deal with Ash Ketchum and see if the anime and explosions were the real deal. It wasn¡¯t like there was a very high chance of them meeting, but even a slim one was worrying.

    After calling his pokemon back after another ten minutes of worrying thoughts, Ethan decided that he¡¯d call his little trip early and return home. He recalled his pokemon, minus Smeargle, then made sure he had everything ready. ¡°Okay, Smeargle. Take us home.¡±

    With a blip, twirl, and a flash, Smeargle and Ethan spewed in front of the now furious group of Oddish.

 Chapter 50

    Ethan was broke. It wasn¡¯t so much as a statement, rather than a fact. He¡¯d spent nearly all of his slowly accrued wealth on items he desperately needed for his day-to-day life on the ranch, and he was eternally thankful that he even had any money to begin with.

    After releasing all of his friends, Ethan went inside to sort through his new purchases. The first thing Ethan tried to take out from his new Silph CO magic bag was the sturdy, heavy, metallic safe. It took a minute of finagling with the magic bag, but after eventually finding out how to withdraw specific items, Ethan held the safe in his grasp. It wasn¡¯t unwieldy and was quite thin compared to the large rectangular blocky structure he¡¯d imagined it was going to be.

    The safe was very similar in appearance to a painting, just a few inches thicker, several feet long and wide, and obviously durable. Whoever built it designed it to hang on a wall for easy and repeated access. The front of the safe held two swinging doors with clear panes of either hardened glass or durable bullet-proof-esque plastic on each side. In the center, where the doors seamlessly connected, a fingerprint scanner and combination code were clear to see.

    After reading through the manual provided, Ethan registered his fingerprint and selected a four-digit security code. Once successfully registered, he heard the sucking of air and the clicking lock of some internal mechanical mechanism. Experimentally, Ethan tried to pry the thin doors open, but the two thin doors didn¡¯t even budge a millimeter.

    Using his fingerprint to open the doors revealed the lightly cushioned, slightly indented rows of placeholders for pokeballs. The pokeballs would have to be miniaturized like they were when attached to his belt, but that didn¡¯t seem too bad in the grand scheme of things. He¡¯d use this safe as a place for trainers to ensure their friends pokeballs in case of emergency or to securely store his friends should the need arise.

    After hanging it up next to his front door, he realized that someone could come and rip it off the wall and take the whole thing. Well, he supposed someone could at least try too, as he and his pokemon would blast the thief into oblivion as they made their attempt. It was good for now.

    Next, Ethan placed Smeargle¡¯s art supplies into his personal room. With their important guest arriving tomorrow, Smeargle would bunk with him for a few days to give them the guest room. Then, once Ethan had set that up, he smiled as he withdrew various packets of seeds.

    No longer would his food be bland! No longer would he have to live without bread! Carbs! Proper sustenance! He had purchased seeds for wheat, rye, coffee, various herbs, spices, fruits¡­ a smorgasbord of options! Once grown, processed on his new stone grinder, and stored, Ethan would be able to make nearly anything as long as it didn¡¯t require milk or eggs¡ªWith milk being next up on the chopping block and eggs not being a feasible option as far as he was concerned. Wasn¡¯t there a pokemon that made whipped cream¡­?

    Unable to stop his thoughts about food, Ethan immediately sauntered out his home and off into the berry fields with seed packets in hand. The sun would set soon, so he was on a time crunch to plant as much as possible. As he walked down his rows of ripened berry trees, Ethan heard the shifting of dirt and the faint whispers of poke-speak.

    ¡°Shuu! Shuuuuu!¡±

    ¡°Munch-munchlax!¡±

    Ducking down to stare beneath the leaves, Ethan spotted Munchlax and Shuckle playing with a mound of dirt and pile of berries at the far end of the line of trees, two rows over. He snuck up behind them as they patted down the dirt mound, then spooked them as he spoke. ¡°Whatcha doin¡¯?¡±

    Both of the pokemon jerked in fright as they swiftly turned towards him. Munchlax slid sideways to block the suspicious mound of dirt with his body. Shuckle was flustered, acting like he got caught with his hand in the cookie jar as he flailed worriedly and looked at Munchlax for help. Munchlax ignored his noodly friend and pointed at Ethan¡¯s seeds. ¡°Munch?¡±

    ¡°Nice try, not changing topics that easily. Are you guys planting another tree? Ethan raised his chin and stood on his toes, pretending to look over Munchlax''s shoulder, which caused the pokemon to raise up awkwardly in an attempt to casually block his view.

    Shuckle, being the sweetheart he was, nodded solemnly as he stared at the ground. He didn¡¯t have it in him to lie to hide things from Ethan.

    ¡°We have a lot of trees already, so I try not to plant too many more. Which berry did you plant?¡± Ethan asked, eyes sliding toward the mound of berry options at their side. They¡¯d collected pretty much the entire array of options he had.

    Both pokemon, upon registering that they¡¯ve gotten a bit of permission, eagerly pointed down at the ground as they rambled about their mound of dirt. They were so enthusiastic about it, that Ethan just smiled and nodded along. Once they slowed down and continued to pat down the earth, Ethan spoke. ¡°We¡¯ll keep an eye on it and ask Gloom to help it grow. This can be your guys'' tree, okay? You¡¯ll have to watch it to make sure it stays healthy or all the berries will wilt and the tree will die. Dead tree equals no berries to eat!¡±

    Both pokemon hurriedly nodded before discussing and gesturing toward the mound with one another. Ethan left them to their botany trials and walked off a few more meters to come to his own personal garden. After extending it another twenty feet and planting the new seeds, Shuckle and Munchlax both watched on as spectators as Ethan ran back to and from the house to bring well water to jumpstart his new seed¡¯s lives.

    Now sufficiently dirty, Ethan wiped his hands and knees clean with a wet rag and turned to face his two hanger-ons with a grin. ¡°Gloom should wake up soon,¡± Ethan pointed to the dimming sky. ¡°Let''s let them know about your new tree and my new plants.¡±

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    Ethan followed the slow-moving duo as they chatted and chittered happily to one another as they led the way to Gloom. It warmed his heart to see Shuckle making friends after Dunsparce¡¯s departure. He¡¯d been worried that Shuckle would forgo friendships to save himself from the pain of them leaving, but thankfully, his fears were unfounded. Munchlax was obviously happy here on the ranch, and having Shuckle as a friend was just a bonus to the near infinite food and fun.

    When they made it to his Patio, the Oddish and Gloom were just beginning to shake themselves awake. Puffs of Sweet Scent filled the air as they signaled their rise. Each of them found a singular Oran berry in front of them, placed by Ethan earlier in the day as a gift for throwing up and disturbing their rest.

    Gloom stomped up to him and waved his hands with a large dopey smile, eyes crinkled in joy. Ethan knelt down to give Gloom a hug, it wasn¡¯t often he caught their little horde when they were awake, but he cherished their presence, nonetheless. ¡°Good morning to you too! I just planted some more seeds in my garden. If you can spare the time, can you give them the special growth treatment?¡±

    Without breaking the hug, Gloom nodded into his chest. Then, a giant plume of pink mist sprayed him in the face. Ethan coughed as he swatted the air. ¡°Than¡ªThanks.¡±

    ¡°Gloooooom.¡± Satisfied with himself, Gloom waved over his friends and family and waddled off into the meadow.

    ¡°Oh! Remember, someone¡¯s coming to look over your children tomorrow! Be prepared to be awake during the day if you want to keep an eye on them.¡± Ethan yelled, causing Gloom to pause, face him, then give a solemn nod before continuing on its way.

    Shuckle rested near the stairs, still a little afraid of speaking with the gentle plants Ethan had long grown accustomed too. Munchlax waved them off with a big smile before jerking to a standstill and plopping a hidden berry from his fur to plop into his mouth.

    As the group of plants disappeared into the taller grass, Ethan spoke for their benefit. ¡°You didn¡¯t mention your new tree to them.¡±

    Ethan laughed at their faces full of shock and despair before waving them inside. ¡°It¡¯s fine. You both took great care of it today, I¡¯m sure Gloom won¡¯t even feel the need to help because you both did such a fantastic job!¡±

    Shuckled wiggled, embarrassed by the praise, while Munchlax rubbed his nose in an ¡®of course¡¯ gesture.

    As they entered inside, Ethan held the door open for the two pokemon before picking up Shuckle and placing him on the couch. Munchlax was big enough to climb up by his lonesome, and Ethan liked having a back that worked, so he gave the feaster some independence. ¡°Now, Shuckle. I¡¯m going to let out Emolga so she can play. Do you want to play with her as well?¡±

    Shuckle nodded, still a little unsure but glad to be a part of the fun.

    ¡°Munchlax, how about you go grab the smoo¡ª¡± Before Ethan could finish, Munchlax was sprinting to the kitchen to grab the large pitcher of Berry smoothie Ethan had made earlier in the day. For such a hefty pokemon, he could move when he wanted too.

    Ethan flipped open one side of his unbuttoned shirt, revealing his undershirt with the pokeball design and his new pokeball vest.

    This purchase wasn¡¯t something Ethan had planned well ahead of time, originally thinking of buying an expanded belt, but this vest was very cheap, well made, and quite frankly looked cool. It looked like it was a military vest, a plate carrier type of deal, but held an assortment of slots to securely hold pokeballs and even pockets for his berries, rags, and other nic-nacks he carried around for farm work.

    It had a manufacturer''s location, somewhere named Orre. He¡¯d never heard of it, but maybe it was one of the many cities that was sure to be around since this was no longer a game and real life. He very much doubted that the anime or games depicted every location in the universe.

    He unclipped Emolga¡¯s pristine pokeball, then released her into the air.

    ¡°Emol!¡± Emolga spread eagle, then zoomed around the room in a very slow descent toward the ground. His baby pokemon was learning to glide well, and from the looks of it, was even using some of her mysterious flight powers to slow her descent. One of these days, he¡¯d have a lot of trouble keeping her still and in eyesight.

    ¡°Come over here, we¡¯re going to play with Shuckle!¡± Ethan cooed her over as she squealed as she had the airborne zoomies. She was growing more energetic these days, a good sign if he ever saw one. She was being quite a handful, but she still slept for most of the day as she got tuckered out easily.

    Emolga landed with a face-plant into Ethan¡¯s thighs, but rose up unperturbed by her awkward landing. Shuckle spoke to the baby pokemon, explaining the game he had in mind. It was times like this where he told himself to keep practicing with Chatot on her words. Having a translator would be a blessing.

    ¡°Shuck Shuckle Shuuuu. Shuuuuuuuuckle.¡±

    Whatever Shuckle said must have been exciting, as Emolga jumped and rapidly squealed out her name. ¡°Emol-Emol-Emol-Emol-Emol-Emolga!¡±

    Ralts blipped into existence, missing the couch seats and landing on the backrest, causing her to tumble down the cushioned mountain. She shifted her eyes between everyone before climbing into Ethan¡¯s lap to sit down. ¡°Hello, Ethan.¡±

    ¡°Hello, Ralts. Would you like to play as well?¡± He asked, gauging her reaction.

    ¡°I shall observe.¡± She calmly stated, before making grabby hands at Munchlax who was walking into the living room with an unsteady armful full of colorful mix-matched berry juice smoothies.

    Shuckle retreated into his shell and Emolga stood on her legs, slightly unsteadily. She narrowed her eyes as she focused on the task at hand.

    With a flash of yellow, one of Shuckle¡¯s limbs wiggled out of one of his holes, and Emolga launched herself forward with a battlecry. ¡°Emol!¡±

    With a handful of air, she shifted to watch the other holes, dashing forward at the next flash of yellow to appear.

    It was a game of whack-a-mole.

    Ethan sipped his smoothie with a gentle smile as he watched the pokemon cheer on the little, innocent game of whack-a-mole. It was the times like these where he was glad to have been transported here. He just wished he wasn¡¯t alone to witness all the joy.

 Chapter 51

    After eating breakfast, doing the daily rounds around his ranch, and letting all the pokemon know a guest was arriving soon, Ethan stood at the entrance to his home as he fiddled with his clothing, wanting to make a good first impression.

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot? ?¡±

    Looking to his left shoulder, Ethan took in the curious expression from Chatot. ¡°I¡¯m just nervous. This meeting is a big deal and can make or break my future as a breeder. I¡¯m also going an unorthodox route much different from the others, and I want to show that I am taking this seriously.¡±

    Chatot wrapped a wing around his head, giving him a gentle hug as she spoke. ¡°Ethan okay.¡±

    He sighed as he heard his own voice parroted back to him. ¡°I know.¡±

    Not thirty seconds later, Chatot swiveled her head forward and patted Ethan¡¯s shoulder with one of her talons, grabbing his attention as she pointed ahead with her beak. Coming up from the extremely rough trial was the man he¡¯d been waiting for.

    The man was thin and lanky, causing his white lab coat to flap in the wind. Beneath his lab coat, the man wore a casual blue collared shirt, lazily half tucked into his off-green pants. He carried a small suitcase, which Ethan assumed was some magical Silph CO bag, and had a pair of thin framed glasses resting on his nose. He looked to be in his early forties, and his receding hairline did not help with that guess.

    The man, upon noticing Ethan and Chatot, visibly relaxed as he flashed a big smile and waved energetically, appearing spry and healthy. ¡°You weren¡¯t kidding when you said you were out of the way and secluded! Ethan, I presume?¡± He said as he came across the threshold and onto his ranch with a hand extended.

    Ethan walked forward and shook the man¡¯s proffered hand. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you got here so quickly, to be fair. Welcome to Berry Falls Ranch, Professor Elm.¡±

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot! Hello! ?¡± Chatot greeted from his shoulder as she quizzically inspected the professor from head to toe. She was interested in the man who had him worried.

    Elm gazed around the entrance to his ranch, taking in the camp for trainers, the training grounds, and the long row of berry trees. A surge of pride filled Ethan¡¯s chest as he noticed the approval in the professor''s eyes.

    Professor Elm clapped, an awkward motion as he was carrying a briefcase. ¡°Now! Where are these Oddish? I¡¯ve been waiting far too long to begin my research!¡± Elm proclaimed jovially as he scanned around the ranch, adjusting his glasses as he did so.

    Ethan laughed as he tilted to look back down the path. ¡°They¡¯re off in the meadow on the other end. Weren¡¯t you supposed to have some aides?¡±

    The professor waved off his concerns as he looked ready to just plow ahead to begin his work. ¡°Bah! They were too slow! I rushed ahead once I knew I was close. By the way, have you seen my Furret around?¡±

    As soon as the words left his mouth, a long fluffy Ferret¡ªNo, a Furret bounded out of the forest and quickly sprinted towards the professor, creating a mirage as its brown and tan fur blurred together. It jumped and wrapped itself around its trainer, covering his face and shoving his glasses, causing them to tilt and nearly fall off the professor¡¯s face. ¡°Furrrrrr!¡±

    Ethan knew of Furrets, but seeing one in real life differed from what he¡¯d imagined. First off, they were much bigger than he thought they¡¯d be. The Professor¡¯s Furret had to be six feet long from head to tail, and it looked very fluffy. It obviously had very long hair that hid its slender body, judging by the plomp given by the professor¡¯s hand when he ran it all over the pokemon. The silky strands of fur flattened down at his touch as he tried to pry the ¡®long-boi¡¯ free.

    ¡°Nevermind! He found me. Furret, behave yourself! We are guests here!¡± Elm mockingly scolded, unable to hide his smile as the fluffy pokemon buried his head into his trainer.

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s fine. I got some rabble rousers as well. Furret, don''t be afraid to grab some berries from the fields. If that¡¯s alright with you, professor?¡±

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot! ?¡± Chatot fluttered off Ethan¡¯s shoulder, gliding off towards the fields in question. Furret, without waiting for permission, slithered off the professor with a shocking amount of grace and dexterity, then quickly barreled past, off toward the treats. It was shockingly nimble, betraying its larger size.

    The professor adjusted his glasses as he was free from his hairy prison. ¡°Well, that¡¯s one way to do introductions. Although, I must say, your berry fields are enormous. How many rows are there past this one? There must be hundreds of trees!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. I think there¡¯s slightly less than two-hundred in total, with an array of different types. It took a while for the first ones to grow, but once it all got started, it sped up quickly. Anyway, should we wait for your assistants?¡± Ethan asked, trying to get everything back on track but still nervous about meeting the famed professor known for breeding.

    ¡°Oh! The Oddish! No, let¡¯s get going. They can find their way over, I¡¯m sure.¡±

    As Ethan led the professor down the cobbled path, he did a small tour of everything he owned. He even pointed out the various pokemon who often came by to partake of his berries¡ªWhich were mostly Starly and the occasional Wurmple or Caterpie. The rows of his trees as they were now in full view, Shuckle¡¯s den, and his home.

    As they passed his home, Ethan had to hold out an arm to alert the professor of the Oddish in front of him. The Professor didn¡¯t look surprised at being stopped, but did scan around with a more discerning eye¡ªHe still missed the Oddish who were less than a meter away from him, though. ¡°Professor, look down.¡± Ethan said.

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    When the professor finally saw the Oddish, he exclaimed. ¡°OH MY ARCEUS! THESE BABIES ARE ENORMOUS! ALPHAS?!¡±

    Ethan winced at the loud noise and noticed the peeking eye of an angry Oddish being awoken. ¡°No, professor. These are the normal Oddish who live on my ranch. The seedlings are off in the meadow over there. Gloom, their parent, should be waiting for us. Try to keep your voice down¡­ these Oddish are sleeping.¡±

    Elm nodded along as he listened, then wiped his brow as he calmed down. He fully faced the Oddish and bowed at a ninety-degree angle. ¡°Sorry, Oddish.¡±

    As he turned to follow Ethan out into the Meadow, he looked relieved. ¡°I thought you had some super saplings¡­ My heart nearly exploded.¡±

    Ethan patted the professor¡¯s shoulder as he spotted Munchlax exiting the berry fields, rubbing his belly with contentment. They both locked eyes, and Munchlax froze in place, guilt marring his face. Ethan narrowed his eyes, pointed at him, then crooked his finger in the universal, language barrier gesture of ¡®Get over here. You¡¯re in trouble.¡¯ ¡°One second, professor¡­. Munchlax!¡±

    With a jolt, Munchlax unfroze. Ever so slowly, he waddled over towards Ethan and the professor, rubbing his hands together guiltily as he did so. Ethan placed his hands on his hips and tried to give his ¡®disappointed¡¯ face a try. It worked, causing Munchlax to kick at the ground, unwilling to meet his eyes.

    ¡°Munchlax¡­ We talked about this. You ate breakfast less than two hours ago.¡± Ethan said calmly, but with disappointment leaking through his tone.

    ¡°Munch¡­.¡± Munchlax nodded, still guilty about sneaking berries when he knew he wasn¡¯t supposed to.

    ¡°How many did you eat?¡± He asked, sternly.

    Munchlax held up his hands, cupping them together, then made an imaginary line rounding off the top of his makeshift bowl. It was¡­ a lot¡ªprobably half his size.

    Ethan sighed and ran a hand down his face. ¡°Thank you for not lying to me. I¡¯ll take that portion  away from your lunch to keep you on track. As punishment, go wait for the humans near the entrance and lead them to the meadow when they arrive. Okay?¡±

    Munchlax nodded, ran up and hugged Ethan¡¯s leg, then sprinted off toward the entrance to his ranch. It wasn¡¯t much of a punishment, all things considered. Munchlax would have done that if Ethan had asked anyway. He¡¯d gotten away with less than a slap on the wrist.

    ¡°I don''t envy you," the professor remarked as he came to stand next to Ethan, his tone losing some of its joviality. ¡°Munchlax are hard to take care of. Do you often have troubles with his dietary intake? ¡°

    It was a little embarrassing to have this happen in front of the professor, but embarrassment wouldn¡¯t keep Ethan from making sure the pokemon on his ranch ended up healthy. ¡°No. Rarely. If he sneaks a handful, I usually look the other way. I just adjust his meals accordingly. He¡¯s a good pokemon, he just gives into his desires once in a while.¡±

    The professor nodded as he watched Munchlax run down the path. ¡°He looks healthy. So, you¡¯re doing a good job raising him. You¡¯re a good trainer for him, I can tell.¡±

    Ethan sighed, disliking the need to have a stern talk with Munchlax like that. ¡°He¡¯s still wild. He just lives here¡­ Maybe I should catch him¡­¡±

    ¡°Wait¡­ That Munchlax is wild? And he listened to you like that?¡±

    Ethan looked at the professor, seeing his shocked and disbelieving face, gaping mouth hanging open. The professional tone had faded away in an instant. ¡°Uh, yes. There¡¯s a lot of wild pokemon here. The Oddish and Gloom are wild as well.¡±

    ¡°THOSE ODDISH WERE WILD?!¡± The professor reeled back as he yelled, and Ethan was beginning to worry if he was going to have some sort of aneurysm.

    ¡°Yes¡­ Those Oddish were wild.¡± Ethan said slowly and awkwardly, testing if that was the correct response.

    The professor adjusted his glasses with a shaky hand as he gazed into Ethan¡¯s eyes with desperate interest. ¡°The¡­ The Chatot¡­?¡±

    ¡°Oh, she¡¯s my pokemon.¡± Ethan easily stated..

    ¡°Oh, thank Arceus¡­¡± The professor held his hand over his heart as he took a deep breath.

    Ethan awkwardly stood there, unsure about what to do or say. Was it that surprising that wild pokemon lived with him? He didn¡¯t think so, but maybe his view was more than a little skewed. Thankfully, someone saved him from the need to come up with something to say. Gloom waddled up through the tall grass and released a large puff of Sweet Scent, the pink plume of sickeningly sweet smelling powder billowing away with the breeze. ¡°Gloooooooooooooom.¡±

    ¡°Hey, Gloom. This is Professor Elm, the man I was talking about. He¡¯s here to check up on your kids. You can trust him.¡± Ethan said as he wafted the pink particles away.

    Gloom looked the professor up and down, then nodded once. ¡°Gloooom.¡±

    ¡°Professor, this is the Gloom who sprayed the seeds¡­ I¡¯m not sure if that makes it the mom or dad¡­¡± He trailed off, having never thought about Gloom¡¯s gender before now.

    The professor nodded, completely understanding the situation. ¡°This Gloom is a male, you can tell by the size of the bulbed leaves atop his head. The Oddish line can reproduce both asexually and sexually. During an asexual birthing, the offspring will essentially be mini-clones of the parent. This is only done during non-egg births. When they breed sexually, it¡¯s just like any other pokemon. A Male and Female in the Grass egg group make an egg.¡±

    Ethan took in the information, then asked a question. ¡°So¡­ Like a plant?¡±

    The professor wagged his hand side to side. ¡°Specific types of plants. It¡¯s not like those that need Bug type pokemon to pollinate. It¡¯s the other kind.¡±

    As all of that went over Ethan¡¯s head, he decided to move along. ¡°Anyways¡­ Gloom, why don¡¯t you show the good professor where your kids are?¡±

    Gloom waddled forward then grabbed the hem of Elm¡¯s off-green pants then dragged him along. It took a minute of walking through the tall grass, but they eventually reached the staging ground for the seed-explosion. As soon as the professor laid eyes upon a seedling, he flipped open his briefcase, which was of the Silph Co. magic variety, and withdrew a small tablet with two long antennas attached to the front. After leaning over to peer down at the tablet in the crouched professor¡¯s hands, Ethan was lost. Graphs, numbers, and flashes of data zoomed across at inhuman speeds.

    ¡°Oh?! Interesting¡­¡± Elm murmured, seemingly able to parse whatever super-collegiate information was passing by in the blink of an eye.

    After a solid five minutes of rambling, Elm suddenly stood up and nodded once to himself in satisfaction. ¡°Fascinating! This is the first time I¡¯ve been able to get data on growing Oddish saplings. From what I can tell from these beginning readings, they appear extremely healthy. No stressed birth¡­ I dare say that they¡¯re the healthiest Oddish saplings ever recorded!¡±

    Gloom smiled widely, a bit of drool-like nectar dropping from the corners of his mouth and drenching the sapling beneath him.

    ¡°OOOOOOH!? Is this how you take care of them?¡± Professor leaned in for answers, very close to the wild Gloom.

    *PUFF*

    He received a face full of Sweet-Scent as a reward.

 Chapter 52

    After a mild psychotic break, which included many screams of ¡®OH MY ARCEUS!¡¯ ¡®I¡¯M POISONED! HELP!¡¯ ¡®I¡¯M GOING TO DIE!¡¯ The good professor eventually heard Ethan¡¯s reassuring words. ¡°Profess¡ªELM! It¡¯s just Sweet Scent¡­¡±

    The man stopped rolling on the grass, turned his head to peek over toward Ethan, looked down at himself to find himself coated in the pink perfume, then sat upright at a speed not meant for a man his age. ¡°Oh.¡±

    He pushed himself up off the ground and patted down his now dirt covered lab coat, pretending the total panic attack that literally just happened not five seconds ago never occurred.

    Ethan wanted to not bother the professor, but he felt that if he walked away to go do things on his ranch, that the professor would somehow find something else to blow out of complete proportion.

    ¡°Munch-Munch-Munchlax.¡±

    Turning at the sound of the talkative berry-muncher, Ethan saw the two aides of the professor being guided and showed the ranch. As they followed along after the Munchlax who looked like he owned the place, they looked extremely confused, but upon seeing the professor and Ethan, they relaxed.

    Both aides wore lab coats similar to their boss. One was a very short petite woman in her mid twenties with black colored hair styled in a pixie cut, shaved down on the sides and layered up high. She looked professional with a look of focus. The other was a man similar in height to Ethan, with sun-kissed skin and a blonde flattop from the 90¡¯s¡­ He was also missing an arm, cut off just above his elbow going by his tied off and knotted sleeve.

    ¡°Adrian¡­ Please don¡¯t run off and leave us to fend for ourselves deep in the Eterna Forest. It would be a shame if you got lost, never to do any research again¡­ Maybe you need a break, hmm?¡± The five foot tall woman wasn¡¯t pleased in the slightest, and judging by Elm¡¯s wince, she was a taskmaster.

    ¡°Bleh, leave the man alone. You didn¡¯t even introduce yourself to our host.¡± The man nudged the woman with what remained of his arm, then stuck it out towards Ethan for a handshake. ¡°Chase Bennet, a pleasure to meet you Mr. Reed.¡±

    Ethan looked down at the open air where a hand was supposed to be. He shifted his eyes to the woman, then to the professor, trying to glean any help, but Chase¡¯s laugh freed him of the awkwardness. Thankfully, it was just a gag.

    Chase extended his other arm, this one very much having a hand, as he finished chuckling. ¡°Sorry, I do that to everyone I first meet.¡±

    Ethan shook his hand, a wry smile on his face at being the butt of the joke. ¡°Ethan Reed. Welcome to Berry Falls.¡±

    The woman shoved Chase forward, causing him to stumble as she spoke. ¡°Why don¡¯t you give Adrian a hand.¡±

    Chase tsk¡¯d mockingly, then went to the briefcase the professor had and started to take out several scientific instruments one by one. ¡°I already did!¡± He finished by waving his nub around.

    The woman then walked up to Ethan and introduced herself. ¡°Justine Brand, thank you for having us. Don¡¯t mind Chase, he¡¯s nearly as bad as Adri¡ªProfessor Elm.¡±

    Ethan shook her hand as well. ¡°Make yourselves at home. Do you need me for anything? Or should I be leaving you guys to do what you do?¡±

    Professor Adrian Elm stopped with the assembly of whatever his scientific device he was building. ¡°You can stay around and observe, make sure everything is okay and up to standards, but you don¡¯t need to do anything specifically. We got this handled. All you needed to do was let us in!¡± He smiled as he projected his confidence and eagerness on the research ahead.

    Justine started to help with the assembly, and Ethan felt like a fourth wheel. ¡°Okay then¡­ Well, feel free to let out your pokemon for some relaxation if you want. They¡¯re free to eat the berries in my fields, just no fighting any of the pokemon around unless it¡¯s consensual and on the training field.¡±

    All three researchers paused and looked sheepish, like they had forgotten all about their own pokemon in their balls¡ªtoo focused on the data in front of them.

    Chase was the first to release his singular pokemon, and it wasn¡¯t from out of a pokeball. From his pocket, he retrieved a bright orange phone. He tossed it up into the air, and it¡­ hovered?

    ¡°Bzzzzt! I heard! May I leave the phone?¡± The phone itself said, causing Ethan to put two and two together¡ªIt was a Rotom.

    ¡°Go right ahead! Go and explore! Come check on us in an hour and I¡¯ll let ya know if we need your help.¡± Chase said as held his hand out right beneath the phone.

    With what Ethan amounted to a reality defying spectacle, an entity of energy zoomed out of the phone like a spirit, causing the phone to drop into the waiting hand below. An orange top-like body with two arms of solid plasma-esque electricity spun through the air as its large blue eyes scanned out its surroundings as its tiny mouth curved up in a small smile.

    Munchlax was staring at the new pokemon with just as much surprise as Ethan, but his surprise quickly turned into amazement as he jumped up and down, shouting at the levitating ghost pokemon. Rotom floated down in front of Munchlax, and entered into a small conversation of poke-speak before Munchlax ran off toward Ethan¡¯s house with the ghost hovering behind.

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    Justine watched them go off to play, then dug into her overly large lab coat and flicked out two pokeballs, revealing two pokemon Ethan was thankfully familiar with. The first to emerge was a floating mass of steel, weighing what must have been hundreds of pounds. It had magnets for appendages and a large yellow rod sticking out the top of its shiny oval center above its large red central eye.

    ¡°Wah-wah-wah-wah-waaah-Bzzzzzzzzzzzzz!¡± Was the sound it made, sounding like a mix of an 8-bit video game and the static of a broken television. This was one of the rare moments when he¡¯d heard pokemon make sounds other than their name. Which happened, albeit rarely in actual speech.

    The next was a very familiar pokemon. It was actually one of the pokemon Ethan had first thought of when he decided he wanted to be a breeder. The little pinkish-purple glob of goop had a cheerful smile beneath its tiny, beady black dots for eyes¡ªIt was a Ditto.

    Before the Ditto could even glance around to inspect its surroundings, Justine gave it a warning. ¡°No pranks! We¡¯re here as guests. Be nice, and do not confuse anyone. AND I swear to all that is good, if you make me search for you among the pokemon later then you won¡¯t get to come with us on another trip.¡±

    The globby Ditto smirked and nodded¡ªnot reassuring Justine at all. Then, without warning, It quickly morphed. Although it was roughly the same size, its colors shifted and ebbed from pinkish-purple to a lime green. At the tip of its head, a large darkened leaf sprouted, and within seconds, a Chikorita stood in its place¡ªWith no derpy Ditto face to be found.

    ¡°Chiko-Chiii!¡± It said in a bratty tone, before sticking its new tongue out at Justine and running away through the tall grass.

    ¡°Bzzzzzzzzzzzzz-Wahhhhh-wah-ZONE!¡± The Magnezone raised up higher off the ground, above their heads, then floated off towards the rocky outcropping of Ursaring¡¯s cave in the distance. Ethan felt like it was his duty to warn the steel titan. ¡°Be careful over there! My Ursaring lives there and she has her kids with her!¡±

    As soon as he finished yelling out his warning, the Magnezone swiftly changed course, obviously smart enough to know how bad of an idea the cave was, and floated off toward the distant blue pond.

    Ethan debated warning him of the Krabby as well, but figured floating solved that problem before it began. The little grumpy crab didn¡¯t have any ranged attacks as far as he could tell.

    Before he left to go about his business, Ethan asked the professor for a favor. ¡°When you¡¯re done and ready for lunch, would you mind checking over the two eggs I have? Just to make sure everything is alright?¡±

    The professor, who was kneeling down to affix some weird metallic antenna to what was now a half built sensor array or some sort, immediately stood and twirled to face him. ¡°You have eggs?!¡±

    Ethan nodded with a smile. ¡°I have two. One is a Skiddo egg, and the other is a surprise. I don¡¯t actually know what it is and Joyce¡ªNurse Joy, who introduced you to my ranch, wasn¡¯t entirely sure of its species either. Although, she did have a guess, not that she told me what it was.¡± He shrugged, but could already see the eagerness in Elm¡¯s eyes. More knowledge to be consumed.

    ¡°Of course! Why don¡¯t we let these two get everything in order here as I inspect them right now?!¡± Elm quickly abandoned his aides once again as he joined Ethan in a walk to his home.

    As they entered inside, Ethan watched with curiosity as Professor Elm glanced around his humble and rustic home. The small, nearly imperceptive approval caused Ethan to swell with pride. He loved his home, but it still needed a lot of improvement. He led Elm back to the guest room, opening the door to find Smeargle painting on his easel with the two eggs bundled up in their mound of blankets on the dresser.

    Elm gave a surprised eyebrow raise upon seeing Smeargle, distracted yet again from his original task. ¡°Oh?! A Smeargle! How rare to find one outside of Johto!¡±

    Smeargle flicked his orange-tipped tail in a final flourish, finishing his masterful stroke, and then turned, tongue out, towards the professor. He gave a wave and a nod with crinkled eyes of joy as he walked over to Ethan to hold his hand¡ªan action Ethan seamlessly allowed. ¡°Smeargle is a great friend of the ranch. One that I hope to be permanent someday.¡± He finished, giving the smiling dog-painter a wink. Hint sufficiently dropped. Time to move to business.

    Ethan walked over to the eggs with Smeargle in hand and the professor in tow, then gestured toward them. ¡°Here they are. As you can probably tell, the one with green is Skiddo, conceived on my ranch so that¡¯s not in question. The other¡­ Well, it started to shake every two or three hours recently. Please don¡¯t tell me If you know what pokemon it is. I want it to be a surprise, but I¡¯d also like a heads up on what I would need to prepare for.¡±

    Elm surged forward, a gleam glinting off his glasses as he got his hands on the eggs in question. He trusted that they were still in good health, but it never hurt to get a second opinion¡ªespecially if the original opinioneer never got to hear about this. If she did, well, Ethan would just lie.

    Elm twisted and turned the eggs one by one, ¡°Oh, most definitely a Skiddo. Going by rough weight, thickness of shell¡­ It¡¯s healthy.¡± He placed the Skiddo egg back into the mound of blankets. ¡°Do you not have environmental habitats? An Incubator?¡±

    Ethan shrugged. ¡°As for habitats, not yet. I still need to learn more and find a means to build them. Incubators¡­ The big scientific capsules?¡±

    ¡°Precisely,¡± Elm picked up the pink star egg and ran his fingers over the streaks of silver with a tilted, curious head. ¡°They would decrease hatching times. You can adjust the environment inside the capsule to suit your needs.¡±

    ¡°That sounds extremely useful, but also exorbitantly expensive.¡± Ethan commented, earning a snort and a nod.

    ¡°You would be correct. No matter, what you have now is more than sufficient for health. It¡¯s just speed at this point. Not everyone needs speed to suit their needs.¡± Elm said as he still held the pink star egg with wonder. ¡°I have a guess as to this pokemon, but I can¡¯t be sure. Do you happen to have¡­ ore deposits nearby? Metal?¡±

    Ever since that helpful Geodude way back when, Ethan hadn¡¯t seen or even heard about any rocky or mountainous pokemon nearby that would indicate any ore. He wasn¡¯t too far away from a section of Mt. Coronet, but it was a more raised plateau than the mountain itself, and he had never wandered over to explore, as civilization had been his goal in the past.

    ¡°Not that I am aware of¡­¡± Ethan murmured as he thought.

    ¡°Hmm. If my guess is correct, you¡¯ll want to get some. Let¡¯s just say you¡¯ll have a handful with this pokemon if you don¡¯t have any.¡± Elm placed the egg back down, twisting it when it landed to cause the blankets beneath to twist around the base with practiced ease. ¡°Well, it will hatch¡­ Tomorrow? The day after? What you have will have to suffice.¡±

    Elm clapped as he turned with a smile. ¡°The Skiddo should hatch within the week. Now, let¡¯s go release the rest of my friends before I return to the Oddish!¡±

 Chapter 53

    Unlike his aides, Professor Elm came on his journey with all six of his carrying slots filled. Ethan was fairly sure in his reading that the professor could have brought up to eight, but maybe being in a different region changed that around. After all, Professor Elm was the main pokemon professor of Johto.

    Anyways, Ethan stood back to give the enthusiastic gentleman some room, just in case he had some larger friends.

    Furret was already out and about, having been spotted chasing Pachirisu in a game of tag. The ferret pokemon was nimble and swift, easily able to keep up with Pachirisu¡¯s dip, dives, and dodges, but always seeming to miss. If he was being honest, he was pretty sure that Ferret was just missing on purpose to continue being the ¡®tagger¡¯.

    He blinked his eyes at the flick of the professor''s wrist, leaning forward and focusing in on whatever creature would appear from the pokeballs in his grasp. With a casual toss, Professor Elm tossed three pokeballs out at once, revealing some pokemon that Ethan was very much familiar with. Also, these three were a given, at least in Ethan¡¯s mind.

    Fire, water, and grass were the staples of all the starter pokemon from what he could remember, and Johto¡¯s starters were ones he¡¯d played with quite a bit. Although he¡¯d normally replace them in his playthrough before they reached their final evolutions, like those before him.

    ¡°Megannnnium!¡±

    ¡°Tyyyyyyyyy-Phlo!¡±

    ¡°Feral! Feraligatooooor!¡±

    All the pokemon let out cries upon their appearance, then noticing their counterparts greeted one another.

    All three of the pokemon looked exactly like he remembered from their little sprites on Earth, but it was slightly jarring to see that Typhlosion wasn¡¯t constantly emitting jets of flame out the ring of what looked to be organic crevices around its neck. It looked more like a lizard than he thought it would.

    As he finished his very quick inspection, the professor tossed out two more balls. Out of the first came a surprise¡ªA pokemon Ethan didn¡¯t expect to see the professor owning. It might have been a little short sided of him to guess what a professor should have, as he himself had quite an eclectic group, but a Loudred was a surprise.

    ¡°LOOOOOOUUUUDDDD!¡±

    Ethan winced and quickly covered his ears as an earth-shattering battle cry came from the frankly unbelievable anatomical mouth of the purple loudspeaker before him. The professor chopped the pokemon right on top of its head, causing its gaping maw to close with a slight jolt of surprise. ¡°Stop that! Sometimes, I wonder who taught you to be so loud¡­¡± The professor chided, silencing the now grumpy pokemon.

    When Ethan turned to look for the other pokemon who should have been released, he didn¡¯t spot it immediately. The only reason he did spot it, was because it was rather obvious that he wasn¡¯t growing any new berry trees near the front of his home.

    Standing motionless like a thick and newly sprouting tree, a Sudowoodo tried to hide. Sensing that it had failed in its attempt at subterfuge, it lowered its arms and spun around to look at Ethan with a small playful smile. Ethan mockingly pointed to his eyes and then at the pokemon, causing it to giggle.

    ¡°Run free my pokemon! For you have been granted access to this ranch¡¯s fine grounds! Berries galore! No fighting other pokemon, unless consensual and on the training field over yonder, and listen to anything this man says during our stay.¡± Elm gestured over toward Ethan, who waved at the assembled squadron. ¡°NOW! I SHALL RETURN TO RESEARCH!¡±

    The professor quickly sprinted off towards the meadow, back to where the Oddish Sprouts were, leaving Ethan alone in front of his pokemon. He shrugged as they all looked at him. ¡°What he said. Enjoy yourselves, play, have some fun, eat some berries¡ªwhatever you wanna do. If you need help with anything or have questions, find me and I¡¯ll do my best.¡±

    All of the pokemon murmured to one another as they inspected their surroundings. The Meganium quickly made their choice, turning and wandering into the nearby berry fields to grab a snack straight from the canopies with its long neck, reminding Ethan of some sort of long-neck dinosaur. Sudowoodo followed along after it, more than happy to be among the trees.

    The Typlosion walked off up the cobbled path, aiming on exploring its options. Feraligator stuck its nose up into the air, sniffed a few times, then turned and looked off past his trees, in the exact direction of the pond.

    Ethan raised a brow as the croc sauntered forward, pushing its way through his fields of berries at a diagonal directly toward the closest water source. That wasn¡¯t what he expected, but neat to see.

    The last pokemon around was Loudred who looked unsure about what to do. It hemmed and hawed¡ªwhich was a horrifying sight, if he was being honest¡ªbefore looking towards Ethan with its arms crossed. It nodded once, seemingly making up its mind, before walking forward and speaking its name a few times.

    ¡°Loud-Loudred-Red.¡±

    ¡°You wanna follow me? Sure, you can tag along. I¡¯m just going to check on my little garden of food and make sure my pokemon are doing alright. If you find something you wanna do along the way, go for it.¡± Ethan wasn¡¯t sure if that was what Loudred wanted, but it felt like a solid guess.

    Luckily for him, he seemed to be spot on. Loudred nodded and then stood next to him, waiting for him to lead the way.

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    The first order of business on Ethan¡¯s list was to check on his garden of fruits and vegetables. Eating berries was fine, but he was really looking forward to expanding his selections of meals past ¡®Rice with X¡¯. Back on Earth, he hardly ever ate rice, and cooking it was frankly a pain. So, when he came across the small sprouts of wheat poking their heads up through the soft soil, a blanket of gold taking root, he couldn¡¯t help but make sure that everything was well and good.

    While he had his fair share of berry trees, it wasn¡¯t like they had all grown properly on their first go around. The originals, the ones he¡¯d planted in the early days, often wilted or never even sprouted to begin with. Not that all of them had issues growing, but Ethan wasn¡¯t a botanical genius. He planted the seeds, watered the ground, and prayed. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it failed.

    Everything started growing smoothly once the Oddish had found their way here. It didn¡¯t take long at all to find the correlation between the plants suddenly growing perfectly and their arrival. It also didn¡¯t take a mastermind to know that fully grown trees didn¡¯t grow to their full height in a month without outside factors¡ªworld of pokemon or not.

    From what he could tell with his minimal knowledge of botany, everything in his garden was well in order. Grabbing a small sack from within his new vest¡¯s pocket, Ethan went around and collected the ripened fruit and veggies to bring back home. As he worked, he spoke aloud. ¡°Loudred, want to help out? I¡¯m not sure what your species eats, but if you can eat normal fruits and veggies, I¡¯ll let you try some out.¡±

    With a garble of a reply that sounded like the grinding of stones, Loudred started to help gather ripened fruits. The purple brick of a pokemon avoided the vegetables, either unsure of if they were ripe or not or not liking them in general, but any help was fine.

    Once Ethan finished, he plucked off a final Strawberry and held it out to Loudred. The pokemon looked at the fruit with a curious gaze, before taking it from his grasp and tossing the miniscule fruit into its gaping maw.

    As Loudred chewed the tiny red fruit with big chomps and smacks of its lips, Ethan took a moment to inspect the pokemon¡¯s anatomy.

    To put it bluntly, Ethan had no clue how this pokemon could even be alive. Its ¡®head¡¯ was its torso, with its mouth taking up a solid 70% of its mass. It had four prominent, blocky white teeth which coincided with its general blocky structure. Its arms were fairly slim when compared to its much thicker, two toed legs and feet, and its ears were forward facing and looked like speakers.

    Where was its stomach? The back of its mouth was basically where its spine should be. Where were its heart and intestines? All he could see was¡­ mouth.

    As Loudred licked its lips with its massive tongue, a smile tugging at its lips from the treat, Ethan put the thoughts out of his mind. There were bound to be tons of pokemon who were mysteries with how they functioned. Onix, an enormous creature of bound boulders, was probably up there with the best of them. Were they made entirely of rocks? Or was there flesh within? He¡¯d never know, but he was curious.

    ¡°Want some more?¡± Ethan asked the obviously well functioning creature before him, anatomical anomaly or not.

    ¡°Loud.¡± Loudred nodded as he held his hands out, cupping them together. Ethan gave him another strawberry, some blueberries, and blackberries.

    As Loudred tossed them into its mouth, Ethan figured he probably should work on an orchard of non-berry fruits as well. Apples, Oranges, Bananas, Peaches, Mangos¡­ With the help of grass type pokemon, environmental factors might not matter.

    Ethan walked off to check on Shuckle, just to make sure his berry bud wasn¡¯t having a panic attack by all the new visitors. Loudred plodded along behind him, using its absurd tongue to dig into the corners of its mouth, looking for leftover pieces of the fruit it just ate.

    As Ethan arrived at Shuckle¡¯s hole, he gently closed his eyes, pinched the bridge of his nose, and sighed.

    Sticking out of the tiny burrow entrance was the back end of what Ethan assumed to be Typhlosion. Its two back legs kicked in the air uselessly as it tried to ¡®unstuck¡¯ itself. It was too big to fit into the hole, but it had made the attempt. A calculated risk, but man was it bad at math.

    The only thought running through Ethan¡¯s mind as he and Loudred grabbed a leg and heaved was: ¡®Shuckle is probably having a heart attack.¡¯

    With a jolt, the pokemon was loose. Ethan fell on his butt while Loudred fell onto its back, rocking back and forth with arms a¡¯flailin, as Typhlosion was ripped from the earth. The lizard pokemon snorted, causing a flare of fire to jettison out from the hole in the back of its neck. It looked from Ethan to Loudred, then nodded it''s thanks with a sheepish smile.

    Loudred complained on the ground, which eventually had Typhlosion walk over and push the speaker-pokemon upright. Ethan walked to the hole and cupped his mouth. ¡°Shuckle! Come out here!¡±

    Ethan only had to wait a single second before what amounted to a ¡®no way¡¯ came back. ¡°Shuuuuu!¡±

    Ethan sighed and stuck his head in the hole. It was much too dark to make out anything. ¡°I¡¯ve told you time and time again, nobody is going to hurt you. I promised you this. Just¡­ come on out and say hello to the professor''s pokemon.¡±

    Taking his head out of the hole, he looked back to the two pokemon watching him. ¡°Shuckle is young and very afraid of others. Please be nice to him¡­ bring up berries if you can.¡±

    After a solid minute, Ethan spotted a tiny yellow noodle ever so slowly peeking out from the burrow. Ethan stood there with his arms crossed, an expectant look on his face. The yellow noodle wiggled back inside, then a few seconds later, the red shell of Shuckle was shoved forward. As Shuckle¡¯s shell left its hole, two yellow legs swirled back inside from behind.

    ¡°Shu.¡± A sheen of blue flashed over the red as Shuckle gave a curt squeak, as if saying, ¡®I am here. My job is done.¡¯

    Loudred walked forward, muttering his name quickly in clips, bits, and pieces, speaking to his berry buddy. The flashing of blue quickened as Loudred approached.

    With a thud, Loudred sat down next to Shuckle¡¯s red shell and then patted the shell gently. It continued speaking, and after a minute Shuckle¡¯s noodle head peered out from its forward hole. ¡°Shuuckle?¡±

    ¡°And as always, Ethan is right. Told you they wouldn¡¯t hurt you. Have a little faith.¡± Ethan teased, causing Shuckle¡¯s yellow cheeks to redden in embarrassment.

    The fire lizard scuttled forward on all fours and joined the conversation. Shuckle looked wary, but then quickly smiled and rattled off its name with excitement. With a snort, Ethan guessed that the fire-starter brought up berries.

    ¡°You guys have some fun. Shuckle, ?give them some berries from your stash if they ask. Maybe a little sippy-sip of your good stuff?¡± Ethan said as he turned to walk down back toward his home.

    Shuckle paused in his conversation, looked at Ethan, narrowed his eyes, then shook his head. It seemed berry-juice wasn¡¯t on the table today. ¡°That¡¯s fine. It''s yours, you can choose what you do with it. The berries though, those are ours. So, they can get some of those.¡±

    Shuckle nodded easily, that wasn¡¯t even in question. Everyone should get berries.

    After making it back to his house, Ethan came across his horde of Oddish speaking to one another in front of his home with looks of anger.

    A mob had formed, and a group of angry Oddish was never good.

 Sidestory - Halloween fun.

    The world appeared to sense that Halloween was here. All of the brilliant green leaves of the surrounding forest had turned to a multicolored array of oranges, yellows, and reds. The chilly autumn air rolled across Berry Falls, blowing the fallen leaves across his beautiful ranch. Dozens of jack-o¡¯-lanterns, filled with succulent sweets that took most of the day to make, were hidden about the ranch, ready for the night''s festivities.

    Currently, Ethan was standing in his room standing in front of a mirror, inspecting his costume. A pair of bluejeans, running shoes, a black undershirt, a blue vest with white sleeves, and an and an all too familiar red and white hat with a green stylized L. He was Ash Ketchum, at least for the day. He¡¯d told his pokemon that he was going to be a ¡®big-league battler¡¯, and he wasn¡¯t lying.

    Happy with his attire, Ethan smiled and exited his room, then the house, arriving and the eager and excited group of dressed up pokemon gathered near the Oddish.

    Pachirisu chittered and talked animatedly with Chatot, who sung a catchy tune in response. His white and blue friend had one of the simplest costumes, a pair of overly large fake pointed teeth that attached to his normally bucktooth maw. Trailing down his mouth, a puree of Cherri berries made up the ¡®blood of his victims¡¯. He was a little vampire for the day, and he was excited about searching all the nooks and crannies of the ranch for treats.

    Chatot had a much more elaborate costume. With plenty of fabric, time, and effort, a wonderful outfit came into being. With a peg leg, a large black tricorne adorned with a skull and crossbones, and a fake toy sword attached to her hip, Chatot was the spitting image of a pirate¡¯s first mate.

    Shuckle stood near them next to Smeargle. His berry bud listened in on the conversation, but he was a little too fearful to join in. His bright red shell had been painted over with the help of the resident painter, becoming a blaring orange. Instead of a yellow noodly body, he instead was brown all over, becoming a perfect pumpkin pal.

    Smeargle kept looking down with an inquisitive eye, occasionally using his orange-tipped tail to shore up the areas where red peeked through the paint. He was dressed in a black and orange robe, with the stereotypical pointed hat all self-respecting wizards and mages across the world wore tonight.

    Ralts had a gaudy red and white dress on and a cheap plastic silver crown on top of her head. She stood above all others on the patio, looking down her nose at the peasants down below as Munchlax pretended to make food with a pile of berries off to the side. He was dressed up in a chef¡¯s outfit, tall white hat and cross buttoned jacket and all.

    Ethan went over onto the patio and used his old phone to throw on some Halloween music to play over the speakers set up around the ¡®party zone¡¯. Soon enough, Micheal Jackson¡¯s Thriller blasted out around the gathered pokemon, gathering their attention.

    ¡°Okay! Tonight, I have hidden a bunch of Jack-O¡¯-Lanterns around the ranch, filled with tasty treats and sweets! Some might require teamwork to find! Only take a handful of whats within, so that the others may come along and find the same one for a reward later!¡± Ethan announced, to the growing excitement of the pokemon.

    ¡°There¡¯s none in the surrounding forest, so don¡¯t bother looking there. If any of the wild pokemon want to join in, do your best to explain what you¡¯re doing and let them know they¡¯re free to join! Now, you have twenty minutes to find as many as you can! Time starts¡­. Now!¡± Ethan smirked as the pokemon all froze for a second, then burst off outwards towards different areas.

    ¡ª---------------------------------------------

    ¡°Let''s go to the berry fields! I bet there¡¯s a few jack¡­ jack-o¡¯-things there! If any are buried, I can dig them up! If any are up high, you can Psychic them down!¡± Shuckle said as he trudged forward, leading the way to his favorite place with Smeargle by his side.

    ¡°That¡¯s a good plan. You and Pachirisu are the experts in those fields, and we all know he''s gonna argue with Chatot over nothing, just wasting time.¡± Smeargle replied, making sure his hat was in the proper place.

    As the duo traversed the field of berry trees, the spooky music faded as they grew further and further away. Hundreds of wax candles had been lit by Ethan earlier, causing the entire ranch to be thrown into a dimly lit, eerie and creepy atmosphere.

    They searched high and low for a minute or two before seeing a more well-lit area off at the very end of the field, near Ethan¡¯s veggies and fruits. Shuckle wasted no time in wriggling himself forwards with a gummy smile at the light. After closing the distance, he found himself at the spot where he and Munchlax had buried every single berry they could find to create a super tree! Beside the small gray sapling sprouting up from the earth, a jack-o¡¯-lantern, looking just like his costume, grinned at him with its jagged mouth and eyes. On top of the carved pumpkin, a small basket of sweets just asked to be taken.

    ¡°Smear! Smear! I found one!¡± He shouted as he wriggled his limbs and glanced back, only to find himself all alone. His smile quickly faded as a chill ran up his spine. The music was gone, too far away from Ethan¡¯s home to make it this far, the chilly air and the dim lights in the black of night made him fearful.

    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    But this was still the ranch¡­ he was safe here. He wriggled forward, grasping a handful of sweets and treats, before grabbing a little extra for Smeargle. With arms full, he checked his surroundings, before heading back to drop off his haul.

    ¡°Eheeeheeeheeeee!¡±

    The haunting, faintly echoing laugh of a child chilled him to his core. Treats fell, Withdraw flared, and a scream tore through his throat!

    ¡ª------------------------

    "Dearest companion, I find myself in need of your most peculiar talent. You see, somewhere in this grand domain lies a hidden trove of the finest treats imaginable. I require one with the keenest nose, a sniffer most superb, to help me uncover these delights." Ralts said, throwing out her hands in a grand gesture as she twirled to face Munchlax.

    ¡°I eat, I don¡¯t¡­ have a sniffer?¡± The rotund chef replied, questioning. He wasn¡¯t even sure what a sniffer was.

    "Might I, with all royal decorum, implore you to engage in a rather... how shall I say... canine pursuit? Yes, yes! Just a delicate sniff here and there should suffice. Surely, the faintest of scents will lead you to our treasure, given your¡­ proclivities."

    Ralts waited¡­ and waited¡­ staring expectantly at the utterly confused chef before she gave up and sighed. ¡°I want you to smell the treats. I doubt you stumble your way onto all the food you find.¡±

    Munchlax¡¯s confusion faded away and a giant smile plastered itself on his face. ¡°Oh! You should have just asked!¡±

    Ralts slowly closed her eyes and took a deep breath as she reigned in her anger. They stood next to the speaker, blasting out that Bring Me To Life song that Ethan listened to occasionally. Yes¡­ he just couldn¡¯t hear her over the sounds¡­ that was it.

    Munchlax sniffed and sniffed, sticking his nose in the air before he looked down at the wood. ¡°Below us!¡± He yelled, eager for treats!

    ¡°Good, my chef! Let us feast!¡± Ralts said, simpler for her companion to follow along with¡ªErr, hear over the music.

    They both bopped down the stairs, then ducked under the thin beams of wood that held up the patio, finding the glowing carved pumpkin hidden right beneath their nose. A basket full of candy was right next to it, the glow of the jack-o¡¯-lantern sending a warm glow across their prize.

    Ralts¡¯ eyes glowed a bright pink as she tried to use her mind to levitate some of the candy, but she still wasn¡¯t capable of the feat. ¡°Munchlax, go gather our prize! Remember to leave some for the others. I¡¯ll tell Ethan if you take too much.¡±

    ¡°embraceing the role of a tattletale¡­¡±

    ¡°Did you say something?¡± Ralts glared, armed crossed.

    ¡°No¡­¡± Munchlax, murmured as he scrunched up their treats.

    ¡°Eheeeheeeheeee!¡±

    Ralts¡¯ head snapped towards the nearby forest. ¡°The distorted have come!¡±

    ¡ª--------------------------------

    ¡°You just pick me up, then we fly across the ranch looking for the pumpkins.¡± Pachirisu said, arms crossed.

    ¡°I can¡¯t pick you up when I have this wood leg thing! I¡¯d drop you if I just used my one foot!¡± Chatot chided back, not thrilled with the plan.

    ¡°Oh? Too weak to pick me up with a singular foot? No wonder you get the left¡­¡± Pachirisu said dismissively, not even deigning to look at Chatot anymore.

    ¡°I¡¯ll Boomburst you into oblivion. Ethan isn¡¯t here to set down rules to protect you anymore!¡± Chatot snapped, flaring out her wings.

    ¡°Oh yeah!? OH YEAH?! How about we head on over to the fields and settle this once and for all! Or are you too scared?!¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Chatot finished, flying off through the air off towards the battlegrounds. Pachi darted forth, following along on the ground, eyes pinned up above at her traveling form as he weaved through the ranch.

    As he arrived at the training field, he found Chatot on the ground, in front of a glowing pumpkin and a basket of treats. Next to the basket, a small note card was leaned up against it. Thoughts of battle were forgotten. Pachi joined her side and looked at the card. He couldn¡¯t read, but Chatot could.

    ¡°What does it say?¡± He asked.

    ¡°Oh? Need my help now do you?¡± She bit back, but ended up relenting. She looked dejected as she read the note. ¡°Pachirisu, Chatot, today is not a night for fighting. I know you battle in secret. Eat the candy and apologize to one another. Love, Ethan.¡±

    They both fidgeted, looking over their shoulder to see if they¡¯d been spotted. Pachirisu, obviously being the better pokemon of the duo, spoke first. ¡°Sorry. You¡¯re not weak. I just didn¡¯t like my plan not being used¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for the threats¡­ Let¡¯s eat some candy.¡±

    As they reached and grabbed their bounty of sweet treats, a chilling laugh echoed around them.

    ¡°Eeeheeheeehee.¡±

    ¡ª------------------

    ¡°Annnd, that¡¯s time.¡± Ethan said quietly to himself as she stood at the gate to the meadow. He turned down the music from his phone, cupped his hands to his mouth, and shouted outwards. ¡°TIME¡¯S UP! COME ON BACK!¡±

    It took about thirty seconds before startled screams and shouts announced the arrival of his costumed friends and family scampering back with faces full of fear and despair! Following up behind each of the groups was an identical pokemon. With a ghostly body, glowing red eyes, and a head of wood, three Phantumps surged after the scared witless pokemon. They were making eerie laughs and ¡®Woooooos¡± as they swooped down low to pick up the occasional bit of candy dropped from his fleeing friends.

    ¡°AHHHHH ETHAN! THEY¡¯VE FINALLY COME!¡± Ralts screamed into his mind as she blinked forward rapidly, falling down through the air after each mini-teleport.

    He winced at seeing the crying and fearful faces of his friends.

    Maybe¡­ Maybe he should have warned them of his hired actors.

 Chapter 54

    Originally, when Ethan had laid his eyes upon the normally nocturnal group of Oddish grouping up with angry faces, ready to head out on their quest for retribution, he had been worried that the professor or his aides had inadvertently done something wrong.

    It was a valid concern, as he¡¯d already done a slight faux-pas when he¡¯d arrived¡­

    But when one of the Oddish looked in his direction, pointed one of its head leaves forward in a obvious pointing gesture, and then shouted its name in a battle-cry, causing the entire group to swivel to face him... He had second thoughts.

    ¡°ODDDDISSSSSHHHH!¡±

    ¡°ODD!¡±

    ¡°ODD-ODD!¡±

    ¡°ODD-ODD-ODD-ODD-ODD-ODD¡±

    ¡°ODD-ODD-ODD-ODD-ODD-ODD¡±

    ¡°ODD-ODD-ODD-ODD-ODD-ODD¡±

    ¡°ODD-ODD-ODD-ODD-ODD-ODD¡±

    They began their chants, anger clearly prevalent in their scrunched faces as they, together, surged forward.

    Ethan was dumbfounded. What had he done wrong? In the scant few seconds he had to think before they arrived, he couldn¡¯t for the life of him figure out what he had done to anger the group.

    Then, as the group of six Oddish grew ever nearer, he realized that they weren¡¯t looking at him. They were looking behind him. As he slowly craned his neck, he spotted Loudred with a look of horror etched across his face. With a gentle but powerful shove, Loudred scooted Ethan to the side, then held its hands out placating as he spoke.

    ¡°Loudred! Loooud!¡± It dropped onto its knees, which only lowered the purple pokemon about six inches, given his already stout legs. With a disturbingly well practiced motion, Loudred slid into a kotow¡ªForehead pressing into the grass.

    The six Oddish slowed in their approach, then turned to form a group huddle, whispering to one another as they flicked their eyes to Loudred occasionally.

    Ethan was stumped. He swapped his gaze from the Oddish who had never grown quite this angry to the supplicant begging for mercy ahead of him. ¡°Okay. What the heck is going on?¡±

    One of the Oddish, seeing his confusion, plopped its leaves on its hips in a frankly absurd looking gesture, and then waddled towards him, separating from the discussion. Ethan knelt down to get on their relative level, and watched the Oddish pantomime a story.

    Oddish rested its leaves on the side of its head, closed its eyes, and pretended to snooze. It then jerked awake and yelled out its name. ¡°ODDDDDISH!¡± It pointed to Loudred, who flinched at the motion. Oddish glared at the kotowing pokemon, then nodded confidently.

    Thinking back, Loudred did blast its name as soon as it got out of its pokeball. ¡°I think I understand,¡± said Ethan, ¡°In Loudred¡¯s defense, he didn¡¯t know that there would be sleeping pokemon right next to him as soon as he was released from his pokeball.¡± He leaned over to the still kowtowing Loudred, ¡°You are a boy, right?¡±

    With one of the most awkward nods he¡¯s ever seen, since the pokemon¡¯s face was more than half of its body and still facing the earth, he got his answer. Loudred was a ¡®he¡¯.

    The Oddish in front of him still didn¡¯t look too happy, but it was noticeably less mad than before. It walked up to Loudred and stood before the kowtowing pokemon, waiting for his head to rise.

    Loudred couldn¡¯t stand the sheer pressure of its presence and ever so slowly and clumsily pushed himself up to stand. Oddish pointed at him with its forward facing leaf, then declared some form of harsh punishment. ¡°Odd! Oddish-dish!¡±

    With a guilty nod, it seemed that their squabble was over with. The other five Oddish all nodded along, agreeing with whatever just transpired. As a group, the Oddish walked off into the meadow, with Loudred following behind.

    ¡°What am I? Chopped liver? What the hell is happening?¡± Ethan shouted as his face was full of confusion. He chased after them.

    They entered through the fence, into meadow, and passed the professor, Justine, and Chase, who watched the procession of Loudred with open confusion. They all broke away from their work, joining Ethan¡¯s side as he trailed the group of pokemon from behind.

    The professor was the first to speak. ¡°Uhh¡­ Did Loudred do something wrong? Why does it look like he¡¯s being led towards punishment?¡±

    Ethan was about to answer, but the group of pokemon suddenly stopped and turned to face them. The group of Oddish spread out, circling the Loudred who once again dropped to his knees. Loudred dramatically gazed up towards the sky, arms held out to the sides, as if saying ¡®take me!¡¯.

    As one, the Oddish began their dance, and Ethan, the professor, Justine, and Chase quieted as they watched on. The only sounds that could be heard was the swaying of grass from both the surroundings, and from the Oddish themselves as they twirled and circled in perfect coordination. Their formerly angry faces were gone, replaced by a solemn facade as they twirled and hopped. Loudred knelt there, still as could be, as he gazed upwards at the slowly growing gray cloud high above.

    The professor whipped out a camera and began recording the scene¡­ not the option Ethan would have chosen, given that it was his pokemon that looked to be a sacrifice in a weird ritual, but to each their own.

    If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    Only a few seconds later, the gentle pattering of rain descended across the meadow. Where Ethan and the group of researchers stood, it was barely noticeable, but from where Loudred knelt, it was a torrential downpour. After a solid thirty seconds, the Oddish stilled and watched Loudred get pelted by the water. Eventually, Gloom, who had stood off to the side, out of everyone''s notice, called an abrupt end to the proceedings.

    With a strenuous shake of its body, a large orange ball shot out from Gloom, launching itself up into the sky to hover in place. The gray clouds dissipated, ending the downpour and bringing out an artificial sun for all to see.

    Loudred stood up, still soaking wet, and murmured his name to the surrounding Oddish and then Gloom. He stomped back sullenly toward the group of humans and joined the professor''s side.

    While Elm was still recording the grass pokemon, Justine''s attention wavered back toward Ethan. ¡°What was that?¡±

    Ethan shrugged. ¡°When Loudred got released from his pokeball, he shouted his name. It woke the Oddish, and they were forming up for a witch hunt. As punishment for waking them, ?they decided that Loudred¡¯s punishment was to be drenched from their Rain Dance. Gloom, their leader, called the end with a Sunny Day¡­ at least, that¡¯s what I gathered.¡±

    Chase spoke up, his formerly immaculate flat-top dampened by the droplets of rain. ¡°Oddish don¡¯t learn Rain Dance.¡±

    Ethan gave him a raised eyebrow and pointed at the group of now happy and dancing Oddish. ¡°Well, what would you call that then? They can learn Rain Dance. I taught them the move.¡± Ethan cupped his mouth and shouted. ¡°Do another Rain Dance!¡±

    All at once, the group of Oddish and their leader, Gloom, swung their gaze toward him and nodded with happy smiles. Once again, they swayed, twisted, and hopped in a synchronized dance, causing the Sunny Day to falter. In its spot, the formerly dissipated gray clouds came back with vigor, causing a faint drizzle to fall from the sky.

    Ethan turned to the three stupefied researchers with a smug smile.

    ¡°Ethan!¡± *Blip!* ¡°Ow!¡±

    From out of thin air, Ralts dropped to the ground. It was a surprisingly common sight, as Ethan had long since learned that the little psychic seemed to teleport a solid three to five feet in the air every time.

    With a faint grumble, Ralts hastily stood and dusted off her legs as she spoke telepathically in a hurry. ¡°The distorted have come!!! Writhing their way into your home like serpents through the cracks, bringing with them their twisted presence. They seek to defile what is ours, to taint the very air with their corruption. But know this¡ªyour domain shall not be sullied by such filth! Their intrusion is but a momentary blight, one we shall swiftly and decisively purge!!!!!¡±

    Blank faced, Ethan stared into the fierce pinkish-red eyes glaring into his soul. ¡°Was it a Rotom?¡±

    Ralts opened her mouth to speak, then closed it. She narrowed her eyes, then glanced around at the others nearby. ¡°So, you knew? You stood by, fully aware, yet said nothing...? How curious, to hold such knowledge and choose silence¡­¡±

    Ethan gestured to Ralts as he looked at the three researchers. ¡°This is Ralts¡ªRalts, this is Professor Elm, one of the worlds best when it comes to pokemon breeding. These are his aides, Justine and Chase. Chase, Ralts isn¡¯t a fan of ghost type pokemon. So, it appears that she has chosen to embrace the role of a tattletale, divulging secrets with all the grace of a servile informant.¡±

    Ralts spluttered, then surged forth furiously to start feebly punching his shins. ¡°You take that back!¡±

    Ethan shrugged. ¡°Your words, not mine.¡±

    Chase winced and ran a hand through his damp flattop. ¡°Is he causing trouble?¡±

    Ethan looked to Ralts, who slowed in her flimsy punches. ¡°No¡­.¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Ethan said to fill in the blanks, just in case the telepathy wasn¡¯t going out to everyone. Now that Rotom had come up in conversation, Ethan had a favor to ask. ¡°By the way, Rotom possesses machines, right? Do you think he could charge a phone? I have¡­ a very unique phone that''s very dear to me. It has a lot of memories stored inside of it, but there¡¯s no chargers for it anymore.¡±

    Chase, nodded with ease. ¡°Oh sure. He can do that easily enough. He¡¯d have to hop inside to look at the internals, but it shouldn¡¯t be an issue.¡±

    Ethan mentally fist bumped as he knelt to pick up Ralts. ¡°Well, I won¡¯t distract you guys any longer. I¡¯ll go make us all some dinner and check on the situation. Oddish, Gloom, don¡¯t cause too much trouble out here, okay?¡±

    ¡°Odddddd!¡±

    ¡°Odd-odd!¡±

    ¡°Odddish!¡±

    ¡°Glooooooooooooooom.¡±

    As he walked back through the now slightly damp meadow with Ralts in his arms, he found it to be the perfect opportunity to ask some questions. ¡°Hey Ralts, you do know that not all ghost pokemon are bad, right?¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    Ethan ignored the silence and carried on. ¡°Your¡­ coven? It¡¯s in a war of some kind with ghosts?¡±

    Ralts nodded, but still didn¡¯t speak. She crossed her arms and sulked in his hold.

    ¡°Has this war always been ongoing? Or is it a recent thing?¡± He asked.

    ¡°Recent.¡±

    ¡°Do you know why it started?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯ve grown upset over one of their kings being taken. The one from the building of man. They¡¯re lashing out and creating an imbalance, one which we aim to right. It is not the first time the distorted have sought to harm the forest, nor will it be the last.¡± Ralts dropped that bomb on him, and he didn¡¯t really know what to say.

    ¡°Do you know what pokemon was taken? I assume someone went and caught it?¡± He asked as they climbed the steps of his home.

    ¡°Hmm¡­ The eternal nightmare. I know not what humans call him.¡±

    As Ethan swung open his door, he felt a chill run down his spine. ¡°Well that doesn¡¯t sound ominous at all.¡±

    Inside his home, Smeargle was trying to work the laptop. He leaned forward and gently smacked the side like it was a faulty TV. Suddenly, the electrical plasma form of Rotom peeked out from the screen, causing Smeargle to flail back with a shout. ¡°SMEAR!¡± The chair toppled over, and the Rotom spun as it giggled.

    ¡°I¡¯m telling Chase.¡± Ethan said, completely monotone.

    Rotom tore himself free from the computer and spun to face Ethan, pleading. Ethan pretended to think, tapping a finger to his chin. ¡°Hmm. Tell you what, you charge my phone for me, and I will let this little prank slide.¡±

    Rotom bobbed and spun in the air, eyes crinkling into joy as little sparks flew off of its body. Ethan went over to the kitchen and opened one of the drawers, grabbing his old Earth phone. He held it out, and in a flash, Rotom surged forward into it. After a second, a familiar apple logo appeared, just with eyes as it looked from side to side.

    His lock screen appeared, and in a millisecond unlocked without him doing anything, which was mildly concerning. Once his home screen appeared, the battery percentage in the top right went from 1% to 100% in a blink of an eye. Rotom surged out of his phone and into the air with a shiver.

    Ethan reached out to pat the hovering pokemon, but his hand fell through its form, leaving it slightly tingly and with raised hairs. ¡°Thanks¡­¡± Ethan sucked in a breath as he opened his front door. ¡°CHATOT! COME HERE! I HAVE SOMETHING YOU¡¯LL LOVE!¡±

 Chapter 55

    Ethan smiled as he sat on the edge of his patio, his old phone in hand and his colorful bird on his shoulder. Chatot bounded up and down, wings flared out in a happy dance as Ethan skipped through his old playlists.

    It¡¯d been over a year since Ethan had the chance to listen to any music from Earth, and he was thankful that he¡¯d downloaded his music for when the service was spotty during his commutes. It wasn¡¯t like he could magically stream all the songs now that his phone was working and had an internet connection. All the songs he had now were the only songs he would ever get.

    Still, even without the ability to stream, he still had several hundred songs thrown into random playlists to enjoy with Chatot and the others. He had genres galore, ranging from old 90¡¯s R&B to the standard Pop and Rap that constantly repeated on the radio.

    Some of the music he had on hand wasn¡¯t suitable for¡­ younger audiences. They also referenced things that those in the world of pokemon wouldn¡¯t have. It wasn¡¯t the end of the world if someone overheard the lyrics, but it would be awkward having to explain the origins.

    First things first, Ethan played thirty seconds of several popular songs or genres and tried to gauge Chatot¡¯s reactions, aiming to see what she liked and disliked. First up was country music, which had a surprising reaction¡ªShe liked it. He didn¡¯t have many country songs on hand, mostly the songs his mother would listen to when they were together. So, with a heavier than normal heart and memories coming to the forefront, Ethan let the song Islands In The Stream by Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers play on.

    Chatot was enthralled, her metronome tail clicking back and forth to the proper BPM. If Ethan let go of his phone, he was 99% sure that she would dive to catch it before it got damaged solely just to save the now glorified music player.

    Next up was Rap, a genre Ethan wasn¡¯t too much of a fan of. Oh, he liked some songs and could appreciate the wordplay, but the songs he gravitated toward tended to be of the ¡®sad boy¡¯ type. $uicideboy$ was the go too after a long day of tiresome work, so he played And to Those I Love, Thanks for Sticking Around. Unlike the other $uicideboy$ songs he had on hand, this one didn¡¯t have¡­ too much language unsuitable for Chatot¡¯s innocent ears.

    She bopped to the beat, thoroughly liking the beat itself but not caring much for the words.

    Moving on, next up was a song that reminded Ethan of his first meeting with Chatot¡ªGirl by Jukebox The Ghost. It was Indie-Pop if Ethan was to hazard a guess, but he wasn¡¯t completely sure. It was a bop though, that was for certain.

    After singing along with the whole thing, Chatot hugged the side of his head. ¡°Love Ethan.¡±

    Ethan lifted a hand to rub her head while still scrolling through his songs. ¡°I love you too. Now, tell me what you think of this one.¡±

    Ethan pushed play, and immediately Chatot jerked away in mild surprise. Ethan laughed at the reaction. After all, that was about what he expected from anyone¡¯s first time hearing METAL!!! There were many sub-genres to metal music, and Ethan enjoyed them all. Thrash Metal, Power Metal, NU Metal, you name it, Ethan more than likely liked it. Sadly, that didn¡¯t appear to be the case for Chatot.

    The first song Ethan played had been Angel of Death by Slayer. She wasn¡¯t a fan of the initial screaming nor the vocals or lyrics. Once he realized she didn¡¯t vibe with that, he moved on. Chatot didn¡¯t mind Metallica or Linkin Park, but she very much liked the song Dragula by Rob Zombie.

    And since Ethan now had long shoulder length hair, he felt responsible to showcase a proper head-bang to his very first pokemon. Ethan laughed as Chatot held onto his shoulder for dear life as he whipped his hair during the chorus, her talons snapping down onto his shoulder.

    After that, he let Chatot pick the song. His playlist was long, and Chatot¡¯s talons didn¡¯t register on the touchscreen, so Ethan had to be the one to actually push play, but he let her order him about to her whims. Together, they listened to what must have been forty different songs throughout the evening, and they only stopped having fun once he realized that he hadn¡¯t even started dinner.

    Chatot flew off to her nest on top of his home as he made his way into the kitchen to begin preparations. As he ordered his fruits and vegetables along the countertop, his front door opened, revealing Chase and Justine. They looked unsure about entering unannounced, but Ethan called them forward. ¡°Come in, come in. I¡¯m getting dinner started.¡±

    With permission, the duo took off their shoes and entered inside. Chase went over to the kitchen table, where Rotom was busy entering and exiting Ethan¡¯s laptop, while Justine joined his side. With a flick of her wrist, she unclasped a small pouch on her side, then withdrew something wrapped in paper. ¡°We had prepared for this trip, so ?use some of our resources for dinner. Elm paid for it all.¡± Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    Ethan took the offered package and opened it up to reveal filets of salmon-pink flesh. Noticing his hesitation, Justine curled an eyebrow. ¡°Something wrong? If you¡¯re allergic we have other¡ª¡±

    Ethan moved the fishy bits to the countertop and shook his head. ¡°Nothings wrong. I just don¡¯t eat meat.¡± Justine¡¯s eyes widened, but Ethan powered on. ¡°Don¡¯t force yourself to change your diet around me, but¡­ You¡¯ll have to cook that yourself.¡±

    Justine nodded, then grabbed a nearby pan and began heating it up. The next ten seconds were extremely awkward, and Ethan didn¡¯t want to talk about his moral quandries when it came to eating pokemon. The last time he had that conversation was when Ursaring had a glint in her eye staring down the Magikarp in his pond¡­ Convincing her to hunt for her own food wasn¡¯t a big ask, as she¡¯d been doing that for most of her life, but it was still awkward nonetheless.

    ¡°I assume it¡¯s a hurting pokemon thing?¡± Justine asked casually as she washed the filets beside him.

    ¡°Yup.¡± Ethan replied, short and sweet.

    ¡°You know, there¡¯s a lot of pokemon that give up meat willingly. Slowpoke is the prime example. They lose their tails when fishing with them. It doesn¡¯t hurt them, and they grow back.¡± She continued on, not bothering to look at his reaction.

    She held up one of the washed bits of fish. ¡°This is from a Veluza, a pokemon from Paldea. Well, this one was from Kitakami, but the point still stands. Veluza shed their excess flesh with their signature move Fillet Away to increase their speed when hunting. They have an absurd level of regeneration, capable of healing from their self-inflicted damage within the hour.¡± She turned to face him. ¡°I won¡¯t say no pokemon were harmed in the process of getting this meat, as Veluza does hurt itself in the process, but it was willing and doing something it does naturally in the wild. Just some food for thought.¡±

    Ethan would need to do some research on that pokemon, as it wasn¡¯t one he¡¯d ever heard about before. He wasn¡¯t going to take the word of a person he met today, aide of a pokemon professor or not, at face value without doing his due diligence. ¡°That¡¯s interesting, but I think I''ll stick to what I¡¯ve been doing until I learn more.¡±

    The rest of the dinner prep went on without issue, some small talk was had about how the Oddish sprouts were looking, but most of the technical and scientific mumbo jumbo went right over his head. Professor Elm came in right as plates were being set, and with a long sigh like a man getting off from a long day of work, he plopped down at the kitchen table and began rummaging around in his magic briefcase. Out came several bowls, similar in appearance to dog bowls, and several bags of poke-chow. The professor divvied out the portions and then began taking them in hand to bring outside. Ethan stopped him before he exited. ¡°Professor, you¡¯re more than welcome to cut up some of my berries to give to your friends. Trust me, it¡¯s not like I¡¯m going to run out.¡±

    The Professor, seemingly having completely forgotten about the hundred plus berries trees right outside, sheepishly came to the kitchen counter to grab a knife. Ethan opened up his cellar hatch and grabbed a vast assortment of berries, at least ten of each kind, and returned to hand them over.

    All three of his visitors had their own private discussions over the berries, huddling up for some hypotheses about what kinds they were and what they could do. Ethan filled in the blanks, he walked right into the huddle and pointed down the line. ¡°Cheri, Oran, Chesto, Pecha, Rawst, Aspear, Leppa, Lum, Sitrus, Figy, Lapapa, Tazz, Pinap, Hondew, Durin, Shuca, Ganlon, Starf, and Hopo.¡±

    Ethan stood there with a smirk as the three researchers looked at him like he¡¯d grown another head. He hadn¡¯t been idle this past week¡ªhe¡¯d done his own research. With the power of the internet, untold knowledge was at his disposal. One of the things he needed to know was what berries he had available and what properties they had. With a long extensive trip around his fields with Shuckle in tow, they categorized all of his berry trees and labeled the crates and sacks in his cellar. Shuckle could now properly store each berry in their own compartment, as he also knew what each of them was. Although he couldn¡¯t read the labels, little berry paintings from Smeargle closed that gap quickly.

    Elm was the first to speak. ¡°Oh wow! You have a fortune out there ripe for the picking! Cheri, Chesto, Pecha, Rawst, and Aspear! You nearly have a cure for every situation!¡±

    ¡°Nearly?¡± Ethan asked. He was pretty sure he had them all.

    ¡°Perism, for confusion.¡± Elm tapped the side of his head with a smile. ¡°You have such a wide assortment. You should sell your excess!¡±

    Ethan grabbed a bucket filled with Sitrus and Orans for the Oddish and water pokemon for his pond. ¡°Find me a place to sell them and I¡¯d be more than willing. We¡¯re out in the middle of nowhere and Smeargle is the only pokemon around that can teleport me to Eterna City.¡± Ethan shook his head. ¡°Maybe in the future once I have more things to sell other than just berries. I¡¯d like to make cheeses and other things as well. Do remember, I have a Shuckle.¡±

    ¡°Wait, you have a Shuckle?¡± Elm asked, surprise written on his face.

    Thinking back, Ethan realized that Shuckle hadn¡¯t been around any of the humans yet, only having met Loudred and Typhlosion. ¡°Yes, I have a Shuckle. When he¡¯s a little older, I plan on selling some of his berry juice. Whether that be as just the juice themselves, flavored cheeses, alcohol, or whatnot. He¡¯s still young, but in two-ish months, he will be fully grown¡ªat least, that¡¯s what Nurse Joy said. He¡¯s the one who goes and sorts the berries and collects them throughout the day.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s lovely. You¡¯ll have to show me all of your pokemon when we have some free time.¡± Elm said, a gentle smile on his face.

    ¡°Maybe after dinner? After I eat my share, I¡¯m off to feed the wild pokemon who live on my ranch. The ones who call the ranch home. We can find all my friends out and about, I¡¯m sure.¡±

    ¡°That sounds like a plan. Now, Justine, you cooked me some food, didn¡¯t you?¡± Elm rubbed his hands, nearly pleading in tone. Justine sighed, then pointed off towards a stacked plate. A filet of fish, vegetables, fruits, and a side of rice.

    They all sat down around the dinner table and ate, small talk echoing around the halls of his home.

    Being around people¡­ it was nice.

 Chapter 56

    ¡°He¡¯s¡­ a feisty one.¡± Elm murmured as the setting sun sent gleaming yellow and orange patterns across the top of the fluctuating water of Ethan¡¯s pond. He lazily tossed some of the berries Ethan had provided toward the small school of Magikarp and Feebas¡ªThree of each.

    Ethan snorted as he knelt to have the two Marill who called his pond home their pick of their spoils. They both picked Sitrus berries, then lovingly fed one another in a very honeymoon-esque display of affection. ¡°Yeah, Krabby doesn¡¯t like anyone. He¡¯s grumpy at best.¡±

    While Krabbys were a common pokemon, more common than people would like given their snip-snap proclivities upon most beaches and shoals, finding one so far inland and surrounded by freshwater was rare indeed. Like most Krabbys this one was defensive, a little more so than most. From the looks of it, this Krabby has chosen the sole jutting spire of rock to call its home. Very peculiar. ¡°Are any of these pokemon yours?¡±

    All of the pokemon who called this small clean pond home were undesirables to most trainers, excluding Marill and their line of evolution. Magikarp were, sad to say, borderline useless until they evolved, and even if and when they did, they were forces of destruction many a trainer would be forced to release or more sullenly put down. The rage of Gyarados wasn¡¯t a very well understood phenomenom, and he wasn¡¯t one to delve into that type of research in the first place.

    ¡°No. They¡¯re all wild. I did bring the Feebas and the Magikarp from a middling stream not too far away from here though. The Marills and Krabby just showed up on their own.¡± Ethan finished, waving away the two round and happy Marills as they both plopped into the water and floated along its surface.

    ¡°Have you always had such easy goings with wild pokemon? I dare say, I may have run into only a handful throughout my journey from Floraroma Town to here.¡± He asked casually.

    Joyce Joy had regaled him about the unusual friendships the man had gathered, having suspicions of either some form of natural psychic prowess or mild aura emissions. From what he¡¯d been able to scan upon his arrival and inspection of the sproutlings, Ethan wasn¡¯t a psychic, and with aura being rarer than finding five mythical pokemon? He doubted it, even if his results were inconclusive.

    ¡°Hmm.¡± The man thought for a moment as he gazed off at the water pokemon. ¡°I¡¯d say myself and the pokemon have a mutual form of respect. So yes, I¡¯d like to think that most pokemon would like me. Treat others as you¡¯d like to be treated, and all of that.¡±

    Ethan flung out another handful of berries before turning around and marching off through the meadow. ¡°Come along, I¡¯ll show you my pokemon and not wild ones¡ªNot that there¡¯s many more wild pokemon that call my ranch their home.¡±

    Elm followed along through the swaying grasses of the lush meadow he¡¯d spent most of his day in. It was quite a lovely and picturesque place all things considered. It only took a second for Elm to realize where they were heading, and he wasn¡¯t ashamed to say that he was fearful upon their approach. Ethan, on the other hand, strolled up to the entrance of a clearly move-made cave without a worry in the world.

    With a cupped mouth, Ethan shouted into the cavernous entrance, while he took a good ten feet in retreat. ¡°Ursaring! Come out and meet the professor.¡±

    Elm felt a line of sweat drip down the back of his neck at the grunt of recognition and the heavy footfalls from within the darkened entrance. He nervously fixed his glasses, a habit he¡¯d formed long ago, as a seven foot tall mother bear, one feared for their aggressiveness, exited the cave with a frown.

    As Ethan and Ursaring spoke to one another, he took his time to inspect the pokemon from head to toe. First and foremost, this Ursaring was a powerhouse. Ignoring the fact that it was capable of using what appeared to be Stone Edge to make itself its domicile, it was older than many that he¡¯d seen. Twenty to thirty years of age if he had to make a rough estimate, judging by its fur and crest upon its chest. It wasn¡¯t lean either, and as an omnivore, he doubted that Ethan¡¯s berries were keeping the beast in tip-top shape.

    As his eyes roamed the Ursaring in front of him, they eventually found its face. His breath hitched in his throat as its eyes bore a hole into his own. Noticing his panic, it grinned!

    Ethan playfully slapped the Ursaring on the arm, causing it to give him a frown and a roll of the eyes at being stopped in her intimidation. ¡°Don¡¯t mind her, she¡¯s very protective.¡± Ethan said before looking further into the cave. ¡°Too late to play?¡± He asked into the depths.

    *Rawr!*

    ¡°Teeeeeed!¡±

    Two Teddiursa launched themselves from the cave, tackling Ethan to the ground with cute growls and tugs on his clothes. Ethan, for his part, gave a very un-manly growl back and started to tickle the small and cuddly cubs. They squealed in delight and surrendered to his onslaught of tickling, but not before they snatched some of the berries from his small basket. The two Teddiursa then retreated behind their mother, giggling at their theft.

    Ethan stood and wiped down his now dirty clothes with a smiling sigh before waving himself over to join him. He wasn¡¯t ashamed to say that he didn¡¯t move until reassurances came. ¡°It¡¯s alright. These three are my pokemon. They won¡¯t hurt you¡ªWell, Ursaring won¡¯t unless you hurt her kids.¡±

    With steps as confident as he could make them, he walked forward to join Ethan¡¯s side, ending up only a few feet from the Ursaring whose eyes tracked his every movement. Ethan bent down with his hand out, and one of the Teddiursa ran forward and jumped into his outstretched arms. Rising up, Ethan held the admittedly cute pokemon like one would a toddler, wrapped with one arm and resting on his hip. ¡°Professor, would you like to hold him?¡±

    Ursaring¡¯s exhale of disapproval was enough for him to decline. ¡°No thank you, Ethan. But, you own three pokemon of the same line?¡± A very, very, exclusive and well sought after line at that. Teddiursa were a favorite of many women and younger girls for their cute appearance, and Ursaring and the rare Ursaluna were extremely strong pokemon for battles. Most Ursarings in Johto were found in or around Mt. Silver. A highly dangerous zone exclusive to only the most talented of trainers.

    Ethan shrugged as the Teddiursa stuck its paw in its mouth to suck on, its head tilting curiously as it inspected him from head to toe. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t want to tear a family apart.¡± Ethan placed the Teddiursa back onto solid ground and smiled as the three pokemon returned to their cave. He didn¡¯t miss the final glance the Ursaring gave him, one that might plague his nightmares in his sleep tonight. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

    As they strolled back toward Ethan¡¯s home, the man spoke apologetically. ¡°That was definitely the most powerful pokemon I have. All of the others are much friendlier¡­ Sorry if you were uncomfortable.¡±

    He nodded a little woodenly. It appears that he didn¡¯t put on a good enough facade of bravery to escape Ethan¡¯s notice. ¡°It was a little frightening, I will admit. Such a powerful pokemon isn¡¯t very common, especially one with such a fearsome reputation.¡±

    ¡°Well, you¡¯ve met Chatot already. She was my very first pokemon.¡± He could hear the pride in his tone, but for that younger Chatot to be his first pokemon¡­

    ¡°Chatot was your first? She can¡¯t be more than four years old, if I¡¯m not mistaken.¡± He asked.

    Ethan nodded, seemingly unperturbed. ¡°Nurse Joy said she was around three. I¡¯m impressed you can tell her age at just a glance. I find it nearly impossible to judge the ages of pokemon unless I do some research. Shuckle for instance, I didn¡¯t know that his yellow rings meant that he was very young until I looked it up.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t very hard for him to look upon a pokemon and judge their age¡ªnot after all this time at least. With all of his research revolving around young pokemon or their parents, whose ages vary depending on species, he¡¯d gotten a solid grasp on what to look for. Seeing a good opportunity to teach, and that this knowledge was harmless, he decided to share his findings so far. ¡°Those Magikarp are all younger, maybe only one or two. Two of the Feebas were around the same age, with the third, the one with longer scales, being three or four. Both of the Marills are around five years old¡­¡±

    It was obvious that Ethan was impressed, also eager to hear more just by looking at the man¡¯s raised brows. With a smile, he continued. ¡°The Teddiursa aren¡¯t as young as they appear to be, do not let their demeanor fool you. They¡¯re both nearly ten years old, it¡¯s hard to tell with accuracy but they¡¯re not less than eight judging solely by their claws and the clarity of their eyes. Ursaring is More than twice that, being twenty to thirty years of age. It¡¯s hard to tell the age of pokemon past that point. Mostly, it''s by scars or wisened skin.¡±

    He almost let out a chuckle upon seeing Ethan¡¯s gaping mouth upon hearing the Teddi¡¯s ages. ¡°If I was a betting man, I¡¯d say the Teddiursa are twins. A common occurrence for their species.¡±

    Ethan slowed in his pace, thinking deeply about the revelations he¡¯d learned no doubt. ¡°Professor, I have a question.¡±

    ¡°Ask away!¡± He smiled, more than happy to answer.

    ¡°When it comes to evolutions¡­ What determines them? Is it strength? Age?¡±

    That¡­ was an odd question, something he¡¯d assume someone of Ethan¡¯s age to be aware of. ¡°Depends on the pokemon. Most are capable of evolving through strength, or during times of stress or need. Some evolve or adapt to their locations or through evolution stones¡­¡± Ethan nodded to that, seemingly aware. ¡°Not many, if at all, evolve due to age. Some are sporadic, or mayhaps random. Those are the rarest of pokemon, and to this day we strive to learn more about the hows and whys. I believe Professor Rowan, here in Sinnoh, is the foremost expert of evolution.¡±

    As they approached the steps to Ethan¡¯s home, Ethan asked for clarification. ¡°So, for the rare pokemon, I would assume something like Blissey or Lucario would be examples? Snorlax or Crobat?¡±

    Ah, he was worried about that Munchlax it seems. Although, he appears to know about a good many pokemon whose evolutions aren¡¯t well understood¡­ ¡°Perfect examples. That Munchlax may evolve at any time, not just through battles or stress. Age doesn¡¯t play a factor. If you¡¯re worried, you should talk to him about Everstone. It¡¯s a rare mineral that can stave off evolutions if the pokemon desires. Very commonly used and affordable.¡±

    A brief flash of confusion passed by Ethan¡¯s face, but quickly disappeared. ¡°I see. Thank you for the informati¨CAHH¡±

    ¡°Pachiii!¡± From out of the darkness, a Pachirisu flew out of nowhere! Launching itself into Ethan¡¯s face! Quickly, it sprung and swung around Ethan¡¯s neck and rested on his right shoulder. His hand was halfway to his waist, reaching for his last pokeball as Ethan¡¯s groaned. ¡°Pachirisu, meet Professor Elm. Professor, this is my Pachirisu.¡±

    ¡°Pachi-Pach!¡± The Pachirisu crossed its arms, seemingly introducing himself to him with an air of smugness.

    ¡°Hello there.¡± He smiled, Pachirisu wasn¡¯t a very strong pokemon by trainers standards, but very loving ones according to all the ones he¡¯s seen. This one seems to have some spunk to him, though.

    Ethan waved his long hair out of his face, then pointed off up the cobblestone path he''d traversed earlier in the day. ¡°Pachirisu, go and get Shuckle for me please. Tell him the Professor wants to meet him.¡± Before the electrical white and blue rodent could launch from Ethan¡¯s shoulder, he continued. ¡°AND make sure he¡¯s not scared. If it helps, tell him that Loudred and Typhlosion are the professor¡¯s pokemon.¡±

    ¡°Pachi!¡± With a salute, the eclectic pokemon launched from Ethan¡¯s shoulder and scampered off into the darkness.

    ¡°Was there an issue earlier? Did our pokemon meet?¡± He asked. Loudred could be¡­ a handful, and Typhlosion tended to stick his nose where it doesn¡¯t belong.

    Ethan waved off any worry. ¡°Typhlosion tried to enter Shuckle¡¯s den. He got stuck in the entrance and I had to pull him out by his feet. Loudred was there when it happened¡­ Just a heads up, Shuckle is very scared of other people and he is young. I worry for him, sometimes it seems a bit much.¡±

    To his knowledge, Shuckle as a species didn¡¯t have a very pleasant time in the wild. They are easy prey, ones that usually carry nourishing and flavorful juices. Their near inability to fight off predators was a very disastrous downside when eventually caught. A cautious Shuckle was an alive Shuckle. It was no wonder Ethan was having concerns. ¡°I understand. I will be gentle and kind.¡±

    ¡°While we wait, you can meet my youngest pokemon.¡± Ethan reached into his overshirt, where shockingly, an Orre military vest could be seen. He withdrew a standard pokeball, then released another rarity¡ªAn Emolga.

    It was a jittery and excited little girl, spider climbing her way up Ethan like with a singular gleeful focus. He was quite sure that the little glider didn¡¯t even notice his presence. Ethan cooed and played with the small, and obviously very young pokemon in a little game. One where he had her spread out her arms and legs and glide toward the ground. One such fall, Emolga must have mistaken his feet for Ethan''s. She cheerfully climbed his legs and up his lab coat to his chest. When they locked eyes, Emolga¡¯s smile faltered. With confusion, the baby pokemon felt around his face as if something had gone terrible wrong.

    Ethan laughed, causing Emolga to twist around, hand still feeling his face. ¡°Emol? EMOL!¡± The electric glider used him as a springboard to jump onto Ethan, confused no longer.

    The Professor chuckled and righted his off kilter glasses. ¡°Energetic, I see.¡±

    ¡°Not for long. She tuckers out real quick. Emolga, this is Professor Elm.¡± Ethan introduced them, but Emolga didn¡¯t seem to care for anything but Ethan.

    ¡°Shuuu?¡±

    Twisting around, his lab coat twirling with the motion, he spotted a brilliantly red shell, the tall tale sign of a Shuckle. It was cautious, as was a given for its species. It judged him with squinted and slightly fearful eyes, but continued to trudge its way toward Ethan. Noticing his pokemon¡¯s approach, Ethan knelt and picked up the rock-bug pokemon, eliciting a grunt from the hefty weight. ¡°Shuckle, meet Professor Elm.¡± He said with gentle tones.

    Shuckle swiveled its long yellow noodly-like head towards him, then gave a little nod and a nearly inaudible ¡°Shu¡­¡±

    That was all he got before the Shuckle, slow as could be, lowered inside his shell inch by inch, almost as if it was trying to not be seen. It took a solid ten seconds, but once full in his shell, a bright sheen of blue flickered across the vibrant contrasting red.

    Ethan sighed.

 Chapter 57

    The sleeping arrangements were subpar for his guests, considering that his own house wasn¡¯t very large to begin with. Chase and Justine set up a large tent in his campgrounds with practiced ease, while Justine¡¯s Magnezone hovered and rotated in the air, making beeps and boops at random. Ethan liked to think that it was shouting encouragement, but for all he knew it was just speaking gibberish. The fire pit was roaring, stocked with self brought logs which created a comfortable circle of warmth in autumns nightly chill.

    Elm had retreated into his guest room, exhausted from the day''s work and wanting some sleep. Smeargle would be bunking with Ethan, along with the two eggs which could hatch at any moment.

    After making sure Chase and Justine were all set, Ethan wandered off back to his house to turn in for the day. As he left, a glance over his shoulder at the two aides caused him to quirk a brow and smile. Justine sat next to Chase on a log by the bonfire, her head resting on his shoulder as they chatted.

    It seems that they were more than co-workers. The sharing of the tent gave him a hint, but this was enough for a confirmation.

    Halfway to his house, Chatot fluttered down to land on his¡­ right shoulder? With a slow head turn, he inspected Chatot from head to toe, coming to a conclusion. ¡°Your trainer was looking for you. Also, don¡¯t let my Pachirisu see you on my right shoulder. That spot is his. You can¡¯t fool me.¡±

    With a tilted head, ¡®Chatot¡¯ stared into his eyes. Then, the imposter sank into itself in dejection. The Ditto fluttered off back toward the campgrounds, sad that the ruse didn¡¯t work.

    After brushing his teeth and doing his nightly routine, Ethan hopped into bed and made sure Smeargle was comfortable next to him. The painter pokemon was already fast asleep and didn¡¯t stir in the slightest at his entrance.

    What felt like five minutes later, Ethan was being shaken by his shoulders, his eyes shooting open and locking onto a panicking Smeargle. A quick glance to the window as he sat up in bed let him know that it was still deep into the night. ¡°What''s wrong?!¡±

    Smeargle grabbed his hands and drug him out of bed in a hurry, leading him to the corner of the room where both of his pokemon eggs shook furiously on their blankets. ¡°Oh¡­ OH!?¡±

    Once Ethan registered what was happening, Smeargle rushed out of the room, leaving him alone.

    Ethan threw on pants and a shirt, his eyes never leaving the shaking eggs. Each rumble seemed to spur the other in a contest of unborn vigor. The sounds of the door opening caused Ethan¡¯s eyes to flicker away for just a moment, finding Smeargle returning with a handful of berries with a bright, eager, but extremely nervous smile.

    Then, with a duo of loud cracking snaps, both of the pokemon eggs flared their bright and blinding white lights. Just like with Emolga, the white light that blasted his room into daylight reeled back in, coalescing and sculpting itself into the forms of two pokemon. The first was that of a smaller Gogoat, knee high in length with much smaller horns that jutted off to the sides. Its orange tipped hooves clattered along the floorboards as it tried to find its footing within its new surroundings and its leafy shrubbery coat rustled like leaves in a storm.

    The other pokemon was one Ethan had never seen before. All of the white light faded into a bright blistering pink humanoid body, small like a human baby. The top of the pokemon¡¯s head, its hair, appeared to be done up in a small topknot. Unlike a human baby, the proportions were off. Its head was large for its size, and its arms were much too thick and stocky. On its chest, a pyramidal-diamond of what looked to be steel or iron rested in place. The last identifying feature was on its lower lip. The lip had a square growth giving the appearance of a cute under-bite. It looked worried, but that may have been its natural appearance. He wasn¡¯t sure.

    As Skiddo tried to stand, failing miserably on its newfound feet, the pink pokemon raised its hands and stared at them in wonder¡­ just before it began to freak the fuck out. It began looking around the floor, the ceiling, the items around the room in a panic. It garbled out a bunch of baby nonsense as it did so, reminding Ethan of Donnie from The Wild Thornberrys. ¡°Ribba dabba tinka wowah! Blib-blab kach zazzaa!¡±

    With its little pink feet, it sprinted past Ethan in a toddler¡¯s run, moving past Smeargle and aiming straight for the door. With Skiddo right in front of him and the mystery pokemon doing its best to flee, Ethan didn¡¯t have much time to make a plan. ¡°Smeargle! Follow that pokemon and make sure it''s okay! I¡¯ll stay here with Skiddo!¡±

    Smeargle immediately chased worriedly after the pink menace that continued to bang on the door, wailing ¡°TIIIIINNNNKKKK!¡± as it freaked out, wanting to be let out of the room NOW!

    Smeargle obliged, opening the door as it spoke to the pink pokemon and following it out of the room. Ethan tried to put that worrying behavior out of his mind as he focused on Skiddo in front of him. He knelt and helped it stand, its muscles still struggling to hold its own weight and its coordination not quite there yet. After a minute, with lots of wailing ¡°TINK!!!!¡± echoing through his home and the murmurs and exclamations of Professor Elm from the living room, Skiddo got a hold of itself and began to strut around the room. It came forward after a lap or two, settling itself into Ethan¡¯s lap with contentment¡ªunfazed by the ruckus going about in the rest of the house. Ethan was pretty sure he heard the clattering of glass and the slamming of drawers a few seconds ago¡­

    In less than a minute, Ethan was 99% sure that Skiddo had fallen asleep. With a shout, not scared of waking the Skiddo in his lap (If it could fall asleep with the war going on in the other room it could sleep through his shout), he asked. ¡°Munchlax! Bring me two pokeballs!¡± Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    Munchlax slept on the couch, and he¡¯d be damned if the glutton wasn¡¯t awake. A few seconds later, Munchlax opened the door and ran forward with a handful of pokeballs¡ªThree of them. With a lazy tap, Skiddo was sucked inside one of them.

    *Ding!*

    Storing Skiddo¡¯s pokeball in his pocket for now, Ethan made to leave for the other room with the other two still in hand. Then, Munchlax blocked his path and gave a short hop and head-butt his hand¡ªNo, the pokeball in his hand.

    *Ding!*

    Ethan flinched, mouth agape as he stared into the empty spot Munchlax once claimed. It had to be now? Out of all the times Munchlax had to make the decision to get caught... With a click of a button, he released the grinning but nervous Munchlax onto the floor. ¡°We¡¯re going to talk about this later¡­¡± He promised, before leaving the room and entering a warzone.

    Elm noticed his exit and gestured around the bend into the kitchen with a strained smile. ¡°Well, I was right. You need metal.¡±

    After reaching Elm¡¯s side, he found Smeargle fretting over the pink pokemon¡¯s shoulder as it thrust open cabinets and sniffed the air. It climbed beneath the sink and into the open cabinet doors, throwing out wooden plates, metal pots and pans¡­ it was on the hunt for something in particular. ¡°What pokemon is it? I¡¯ve never seen one of its kind.¡±

    Elm flinched as a thrown pot clanged against a nearby wall with deceptive force. For such a baby pokemon, it wasn¡¯t weak. ¡°It¡¯s a Tinkatink. A pokemon found only in Paldea. Right now, it¡¯s searching for metal to make its signature hammer¡­ are you familiar with Farfetch¡¯d?¡±

    Ethan nodded, so the professor continued. ¡°Its hammer is like Farfetch¡¯d leek, without it¡­ Well, you see what¡¯s happening.¡±

    ¡°So, I need to give it a hammer?¡± Ethan asked, earning a rueful shake of the head.

    ¡°No, they craft their own hammer. They¡¯re quite¡­ bold pokemon. They will actively hunt steel type pokemon and use their remains to fashion and upgrade their hammer. The more their hammer is upgraded, the stronger they get. At certain breakpoints, they will evolve.¡± Elm flinched as another pan was flung across the kitchen. ¡°They can be very powerful pokemon, but their temperament is¡­ not for everyone. She won¡¯t be this bad all the time, but until she gets her hammer, you¡¯re going to have your hands full.¡±

    With a garbled excited squeal, the Tinktink crawled out of his cabinets and held aloft her prize! The shattered remains of a pokeball! It plopped itself down on its little tushy right then and there, then began sorting through the pokeball pieces. With careful and deliberate precision, the pink bundle of trouble outlined what looked to be a crude hammer. With some innate poke-power, the metal began to fuse and meld together, flaring brightly with white light. In a blink of an eye, a¡­ rattle? A rattle/hammer was held her hand.

    ¡°Tinka-TINK!¡± She declared, and without further ado, the pink pokemon slowly blinked, let loose a squealing yawn, then fell onto her back, hammer in hand, letting out a loud snore as soon as her head touched the ground.

    Ethan, Elm, Munchlax, and Smeargle all stared at the snoozing and snoring pink pokemon, incredulous at the sudden change in behavior. Without a word, Ethan walked into the kitchen, stood over the faintly smiling snoozing pokemon, then tapped her with a pokeball.

    *Ding!*

    As he righted himself, he looked around the kitchen. The tossed pots, pans, plates, and cutlery made it look like a tornado had swooped in. ¡°What time is it?¡± He asked as his shoulders drooped, not really expecting a response as he was thinking about the cleanup.

    ¡°A little after two.¡± Elm said as he bent and picked up a nearby plate.

    ¡°Do you think cleanup could wait until the morning? Oh, Skiddo hatched as well, professor. They¡¯re both in pokeballs.¡± Ethan asked as he began picking up the mess.

    ¡°Most freshly hatched pokemon fall asleep quickly, but some stay awake. You¡¯ll need to feed them first thing in the morning to give them strength. I see Smeargle had that idea.¡± Elm nodded towards Smeargle, who still had a handful of berries.

    ¡°So, best to let them sleep? Or wake them and feed them?¡± He asked.

    Elm shrugged. ¡°Up to you. I say we all sleep.¡±

    Ethan huffed out some air. ¡°I agree. I¡¯ll clean this up in the morning¡­ Sorry for the disturbance.¡±

    The professor waved away his complaints. ¡°I¡¯ve had worse times for eggs to hatch. Maybe I can share some of those stories in the morning. Goodnight, Ethan.¡±

    ¡°Goodnight Professor.¡± Ethan responded appreciatively as the good professor went back into the guest room. As soon as the door closed, Ethan slowly turned to face Munchlax who was looking everywhere but at Ethan. ¡°You could have just asked.¡±

    Smeargle looked between them both, confused at the interaction. Ethan withdrew a pokeball and lobbed it up and down in his grasp, staring intently at the suddenly sheepish glutton. It was then that Smeargle understood. ¡°If a pokemon wants to be part of my family, I¡¯m not going to say no. You didn¡¯t have to sneak in your capture.¡±

    ¡°Munch¡­¡± Munchlax shrugged. The deed was done and there wasn¡¯t much else to say in his defense. He understood that asking for forgiveness was better than asking for permission, but this wasn¡¯t a scenario in which he expected to be subject to that rule.

    It was then that Smeargle walked away and into Ethan¡¯s room. A few seconds later, he plodded his way out and held out his Great Ball towards Ethan with a great smile on his face and his tongue sticking out.

    With a knowing smile, Ethan grasped the Great Ball. ¡°I figured this would come sooner or later. You¡¯ve basically been a part of my family already. This will just be confirmation. You want to stay here and be my pokemon?¡±

    Smeargle nodded, holding his tail against his chest as he fidgeted.

    ¡°Consider it done. Next time we go to Eterna City, I¡¯ll get you registered along with the rest¡­ I have to say, I didn¡¯t expect to get four pokemon at two in the morning.¡± Ethan rubbed Smeargle¡¯s head as he walked back towards his room. ¡°I¡¯m going back to sleep. We¡¯ll let everyone know about tonight''s shenanigans in the morning.¡±

    Munchlax helpfully took the berries that Smeargle had placed aside and ¡®cleaned¡¯ them up before hopping back onto the couch, while Smeargle and Ethan both went back to bed.

    Hopefully, nothing too exciting would happen that could top this anytime soon.

    As Ethan finally fell asleep for the second time that night, he missed the vibration from his phone going off on his dresser.

 Chapter 58

    A few hours later, at a prime six o¡¯clock in the morning, Ethan was cleaning up the mess left from the night''s surprise arrival. To say that he¡¯d slept peacefully would have been a lie, and the bags under his eyes from tossing and turning and waking every thirty minutes in worry and expectation hadn¡¯t been helpful.

    Some of the worry was about the health of Skiddo. In his adrenaline fueled/half-asleep state late in the night, Ethan hadn¡¯t registered that the professor had told him that Skiddo should have hatched later in the week. The problems the small goat had with walking might not have been that of a baby pokemon growing accustomed to its body, but that of a developmental problem.

    Professor Elm was probably the most qualified person in the world when it came to baby pokemon, going by his research of breeding. For him to make a mistake, even at a casual inspection of the egg, was unlikely.

    Before he¡¯d even started cleaning up, Ethan whipped out the Healing Machine Joyce had given him, plugged it in, and placed Skiddo¡¯s pokeball inside to check on the pokemon¡¯s health on the screen provided.

    The details provided by the older machine had been somewhat comforting¡ªAn all clear and normal bill of health. What he didn¡¯t expect to see, was the extra information added in. Skiddo was a girl, just like Tinkatink if the professor''s use of pronouns last night wasn¡¯t wrong, and the little goat had three moves; Tackle, Growth, and Milk Drink.

    Out of curiosity, Ethan placed Tinkatink¡¯s pokeball inside next. Again, receiving a clean bill of health and confirming that she was a girl. Tinkatink also had three moves; Fury Attack, Astonish, and Fairy Wind.

    Satisfied with his worries for now, Ethan went back to cleaning up the kitchen. Once the last of the mess had been taken care of, he pulled out a chair and sat down roughly at his kitchen table. With a small bowl of Oran berries to the side, Ethan released Skiddo from her pokeball and watched as the small goat materialized onto the table, lying down on all fours and curled into a small ball, asleep.

    ¡°Skiddo, time to eat¡± Ethan whispered and ran a hand down the baby-goat¡¯s back. He¡¯d ridden Gogoat in the past, but it was still a wonder how the green leafy mane and back of these goat-like pokemon felt like actual leaves. It felt like running a hand down a thick shrub.

    Skiddo mumbled as she gently bristled, slowly opening her bleary eyes and taking in Ethan¡¯s form. He gave the baby pokemon a smile and slid the small wooden bowl of Oran berries into view. The rounded off and stacked bowl filled with brilliant, juicy blue-berries was a suitable distraction, drawing the pokemons gaze away from him and onto the offered food.

    Ethan plucked a berry out of the bowl and held it outwards in his palm. Skiddo sniffed the berry, then gave it a lick, before chomping down and slowly grinding the berry flesh between her molars.

    ¡°Skiiii!¡± With a happy cry, Skiddo awkwardly clambered up onto all fours, looking like a baby deer with her awkward movements, then scrambled forward to the bowl. She ate merrily, getting blue-berry juice all over her face as she shoved her whole head into the bowl at once.

    With Skiddo eating her breakfast, Ethan decided it was time to release the trouble maker. He patted Skiddo as she ate, then got up and released Tinkatink onto the floor. The small pink humanoid pokemon appeared on her back, one hand holding her hammer while the other reached up to scratch the weird plate of metal attached to her chest like she was itching her belly. She murmured as she slept, her tiny mouth leaking drool out the corner and through the square ridge in her lips.

    Seeing no better opportunity, Ethan hurriedly scrambled back into his room, grabbing his phone to use the PocketDex. Opening his phone, he had three notifications. Two from his website, and one from Joyce.

    Deciding to read them after his scan, Ethan swapped to the PocketDex and took a snapshot of the sleeping Tinkatink.

    Tinkatink - The Metalsmith Pokemon: Tinkatink collects scraps of metal it finds in its environment, using its small but sturdy hammer to shape them into tools and weapons. It has a knack for crafting, and its hammer is both a tool and a means of defense. Tinkatink is known to be mischievous, often sneaking into human settlements to scavenge shiny objects. Though small, it¡¯s remarkably strong and fiercely protective of its crafted treasures. Its signature hammer is often sought after by metal eating pokemon, causing Tinkatink to craft their hammers over and over again. Tinkatink can and will reforge its hammer until they are satisfied.

    Seeing as he knew little to nothing about Tinkatink, he decided to click on the attachments on the PocketDex to bring up her evolution. Since this was the first pokemon he¡¯d gotten that¡¯s capable of evolutions other than Teddiursa and Ursaring, more information was needed.

    Tinkatink¡¯s evolution was called Tinkatuff, a slightly larger pink humanoid with a much bigger hammer, the size of its body, and a ponytail instead of a top-knot. Going by the picture, it looked like a teenager form rather than a baby.

    Tinkatuff - The Hammer Pokemon: Tinkatuff has refined its crafting skills, wielding a larger and more powerful hammer than before. It roams the wilderness in search of sturdy metals, often clashing with wild Bisharp and Pawniard to gather steel for its weapon. Fiercely competitive, Tinkatuff takes pride in its hammer and is known to aggressively defend its territory and its trainer, using its hammer to ward off any threat. This pokemon¡¯s bold nature and resourcefulness make it a formidable presence in the wild¡ªBe careful."

    Ethan raised an eyebrow at the mention of ¡®clashing¡¯ with Bisharp and Pawniards for metal. He was vaguely familiar with those pokemon, and from what he could remember, Bisharps were formidable pokemon to go up against. It seems that he had a future headstrong pokemon in his midst. Also, the ¡®be careful¡¯ was pretty ominous.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    Once again, a link to another evolution appeared at the end of the entry, the final evolution of Tinkatink, a Tinkaton. Tapping it brought up a picture of another pink pokemon, the adult form of the baby and teenager. Its hair was fully grown out, creating two long twintails running down its head to the ground. It was actually a little difficult to make out, as the majority of the frame contained the absolutely monstrous hammer the pokemon wielded. It had to be six to seven times larger than the pokemon itself.

    Tinkaton - The Hammer Pokemon: Tinkaton wields a massive hammer forged from metals it has scavenged, including scrap from defeated Bisharp and Pawniard. It wield its enormous hammer with ease, showcasing its deceptively monstrous strength.This Pokemon is incredibly clever, often setting traps or ambushes to gather more resources for its hammer. Despite its playful appearance, Tinkaton is a fierce and brutal fighter, known to knock rocks into the sky to knock down flying prey or down distant Corviknight. It takes great pride in its hammer and will relentlessly pursue anything it deems a worthy challenge.

    Pokemon League Advisory: Caution for Trainers with Steel-Type Pokemon in Tinkaton Habitats: Attention, Trainers! Wild Tinkaton are highly aggressive toward Steel-type Pokemon, viewing them as potential sources of metal for their powerful hammers. For the safety of your team, the Pokemon League strongly advises against releasing Steel-type Pok¨¦mon, such as Pawniard, Bisharp, and especially Corviknight, while traveling in known Tinkaton territories. These Pokemon are known for their strategic ambushes, targeting Steel-types specifically. Please exercise caution, remain vigilant, and avoid approaching wild Tinkaton to prevent incidents.

    ¡°Jesus Christ¡­¡± Ethan murmured as he slid his eyes toward the slowly twitching and sleeping form of Tinkatink. This pokemon was a battler, and he wasn¡¯t sure if she¡¯d be happy on his ranch. He¡¯d either need to train her, stepping out of his comfort zone, or find someone more suitable for her to be with.

    Pachirisu and Chatot both liked to battle, often getting into little spars here and there¡­ Maybe he should create a team of battlers, just in case. He wasn¡¯t good at battling, but he supposed that nobody was at the start. Even if he ended up being middling, it was better than being useless.

    He wouldn¡¯t like it, he was sure. But, for his pokemon and his ranch, it was probably best to learn and make those who wanted to battle happy.

    Looking down at the sleeping and belly scratching Tinkatink, Ethan nudged her with his foot. Immediately, and without warning, the hand grasping her hammer surged with inhuman speed, slamming into his foot as she grumbled.

    Ethan hopped back as white hot pain surged through his limb, feeling like he stubbed his toe with a full forced kick onto a corner. He groaned, trying his best to not shout as he balled his hands into shaking fists as he fought through the sudden pain.

    Baby pokemon or not, they could hurt people. He knelt down, rubbing his foot and making sure nothing was broken. Nothing felt broken, but it was most definitely going to swell and bruise.

    A great start to the day.

    Hobbling over into the kitchen, Ethan prepared another bowl of berries. After placing it on the floor near Tinkatink, he spoke instead of nudging. ¡°Tinkatink, wake up. It¡¯s time to eat.¡±

    With half asleep sniffs, Tinkatink rolled over, crawling with still closed eyes toward the bowl of Oran berries. Once she arrived, she flopped down. With her face planted into the bowl, she munched slowly, still half asleep.

    Ethan limped to the chair he sat in previously, then sighed as he rubbed his foot. ¡°When you¡¯re both done eating, you can meet the other pokemon.¡±

    Skiddo was at least awake and aware, she finished off her bowl of berries then tried to awkwardly climb over his shoulder. He picked up the little goat, placing her in his lap as she settled herself down for a small rest, belly full and content.

    Tinkatink¡­ he was still unsure if the pokemon was asleep or not, but she ate her berries slowly but surely.

    As he waited for her to finish, he brought up his missed messages. First and foremost was the message from Joyce.

    Joyce Joy: Ethan! Hope everything¡¯s going well at the ranch! <3 I¡¯ve got a favor to ask. One of the younger Joys in the family is training to become a full Nurse Joy, and we¡¯re hoping to find her a place where she can really learn and make a difference. I had the thought of setting up a small pokemon healing area right there on your ranch! It¡¯s such a welcoming space, and being a bit removed from the usual Pokemon Centers, it could be a real help to Trainers coming through Eterna Forest.

    Would you be open to hosting her and allowing the Joy Clan to set up a little healing area? It wouldn¡¯t be a full Pokemon Center, but it would still have the facilities to care for Pok¨¦mon and Trainers passing by. Plus, it could bring some new faces to your ranch! She¡¯ll also pitch in with ranch work¡ªno freeloaders here! Just let me know what you think.

    That¡­ sounded good? He wasn¡¯t actually sure. On one hand, having people around on his ranch made everything a little bit livelier. It also would be a good way to get random passersby to stop by his ranch and see what he has to offer and maybe sell some goods in the future. Joyce was a joy to be around, and he was curious if others in her family were the same. On the other hand, he didn¡¯t want a giant building on his ranch. This was his place, and he wasn¡¯t going to have random buildings pop up and create a small town. As long as it was lowkey and not some hyper advanced thing that was going to take precedence over his ranch, he was tentatively okay with it.

    He told her that in his reply, letting her know that he¡¯d need some more information and about his concerns, but he was tentatively okay with it.

    Moving onto the other two messages, one was expected. Tobias had sent in a request for tutoring his Pyroar to learn Heatwave and ¡®maybe other pokemon¡¯. As Ethan was nearly broke, he couldn¡¯t turn down the chance for money. He responded, asking for seventy-five thousand pokedollars for the tutoring and his willingness to potentially tutor some of his other pokemon with prices ranging depending on the move.

    Moving onto the final message, his stomach dropped. While it wasn¡¯t Ash Ketchum signing up for tutoring, it was basically the same thing. Brock¡ªthe Gym Leader Brock from Kanto, traveling companion of Ash and Dawn, wanted to stop by the ranch to see and learn more about pokemon breeding.

    Thinking back, Brock was a pokemon breeder? He couldn¡¯t remember if that ever happened or not. It wasn¡¯t going to be for any pay, it was just a notification that he would like to stop by and see his ranch during his travels with his ¡®friends¡¯ as they made their way to Eterna City. Ethan remembered seeing videos of him teaching at his gym, so he thought that he¡¯d still be the Gym Leader, having not joined Ash in his travels.

    It appeared that he was wrong.

    D-Day was upon him. It was time to prepare.

 Chapter 59

    *BANG BANG CLANG BANG BANG BANG BANG CLANG*

    ¡°Okay! That¡¯s enough!¡± Ethan groaned loudly as he sat at the kitchen table and massaged his temples. Tinkatink paused, arm mid-air with her hammer raised to smack a pot she¡¯d taken out of the kitchen.

    He took a deep breath, and as he was midway through the release¡­

    *BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG*

    Jolting out of his seat, he hobbled over to where his little pink menace was slamming metal on metal, then scooped her up into his arms. Tinkatink garbled out a bunch of nonsense and wriggled in his grasp as he limped over to the door, exiting his house.

    Once outside, wincing as he dropped down the front steps, Tinkatink stilled. Her head swiveled around, inspecting the ranch and the outside for the first time in her life. Seeing as she¡¯d calmed down, now suitably distracted from bashing metal, he began to speak to her in a calm tone. ¡°This is my home. Your home too.¡±

    ¡°Tinka!!!¡± Tinkatink mightily proclaimed, pointing off to the meadow with her small hammer. With nothing better to do, Ethan carried off his newest pokemon around the ranch, letting her lead the way as the sun crested above the canopy of the surrounding forest. Thankfully, the chilly air was warming by the minute.

    Their first destination was Ursaring¡¯s home. The tall and very out of place pillars of rock and stone were the most eye-catching thing around the meadow. So, obviously, that was Tinkatink¡¯s first destination. As they approached, Tinkatink wriggled and writhed in his arms, wanting to be let down to explore, but Ethan wasn¡¯t letting a several hour old baby pokemon wander off freely around an Ursaring¡¯s home.

    As she still squirmed, Ethan spoke into the cave. ¡°Ursaring? You awake?¡±

    Mama bear¡¯s grunt of acknowledgement was enough to cause Tinkatink to still once again. The pink humanoid brought her hammer to her chest, holding it protectively as heavy footfalls came from within the darkened den.

    Before Ursaring made it out into view, Ethan already began introductions. ¡°Ursaring, the eggs hatched last night. This little Tinkatink¡­ is a handful. She wanted to come see your cave.¡±

    As Ursaring came into view, her gaze was already locked onto the pokemon within his grasp. Tinkatink tilted her head, looking Ursaring up and down with a slight amount of fear, given her faint trembling. Even a few hours old, it appeared that bluffing was in her skill set, as she glared defiantly at Ursaring and waved her rattl¡ªHammer threateningly towards Ethan¡¯s strongest pokemon. Big mama snorted, then extended her hands in a ¡®gimme¡¯ gesture to Ethan. Trusting Ursaring to know how to deal with children, he passed the pink menace over and into Ursaring¡¯s arms.

    Ursaring held Tinkatink up by her sides at head height, squinting to get a good look at this foreign pokemon.

    *Bonk!*

    ¡°Oh, Jesus¡­¡± Ethan murmured as he facepalmed. Ursaring blinked slowly, still mentally coming to terms about Tinkatink bonking her on the top of the head with her hammer. Tinkatink, for her part, screeched and wriggled.

    ¡°TIIIINK!! TIIIIIIIIINKKKK!¡±

    Unceremoniously, Ursaring flipped the baby pokemon over, held upside down by a singular foot, then gently flicked her on the forehead as she dangled helplessly. ¡°Urs.¡±

    That stopped the tantrum, and without another word, Ursaring stuffed Tinkatink back into his chest. She looked between the tiny pink gremlin who was rubbing her forehead and Ethan who looked miserable, then snorted. With a rueful shake of her head, Ursaring went back into her cave, seemingly amused.

    ¡°Yeah¡­ I know.¡± Ethan said weakly, knowing that this was just the beginning of the trouble to come. He looked down to Tinkatink, then sighed, before returning her to her pokeball. In her place, he brought out Skiddo. The small leafy goat floundered, but eventually righted herself up on her four legs. As she looked around, a smile broke out of her face, her eyes crinkled in joy, and she took slow careful steps around the grassy meadow. Ethan let her wander about, following along to keep an eye on her.

    As he watched the little goat, he took her measure. She wasn¡¯t very coordinated, which was expected given her age, but she was also very quiet. She observed things, sometimes for a solid ten seconds, before silently moving on to something new. The two new baby pokemon were polar opposites of one another. Skiddo was quiet, observing, and gentle, while Tinkatink was loud, headstrong, and rash.

    The exploration around the ranch ended when Skiddo carefully plopped herself down and curled into a ball to sleep in the middle of the field, right next to the saplings of Oddish. Not wanting to walk back to his home on his injured foot, Ethan sat down in the grass next to his kiddo Skiddo, and waited for the professor to come out for his research.

    Feeling a gentle shake to his shoulder, Ethan jolted awake. After blinking away the now bright sky, he caught the pull away from Professor Elm¡¯s hand. ¡°Falling asleep outside is a good way to get a cold.¡± He gently chided.

    Ethan looked to his side, finding Skiddo still curled up and resting. He smiled at the sight, then turned to give the professor his full attention. ¡°Well, it was either stay inside and let Tinkatink bang on pots and pans or take a walk¡­¡± After a second of indecision, Ethan asked for another favor. That seemed to be all he was good for these days. ¡°Can you look over Skiddo? She¡¯s¡­ quiet. She has trouble getting up on her feet, but once she¡¯s walking it seems to be okay. You said that she wouldn¡¯t hatch for a week or so.¡±

    Elm must have sensed some of his worry, as he knelt down to the sleeping Skiddo and ever so gently stretched her limbs outwards and felt along her muscles. Skiddo was still soundly asleep even as the professor went about his inspection. The little goat even rolled over to her side as she gently breathed, letting the professor have an easier time. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

    After a minute of silence, the professor stood up. ¡°Everything seems fine to me. Judging egg hatch times isn¡¯t a perfect science. Even I can be wrong.¡± He shrugged, nonplussed. ¡°Having trouble controlling her limbs isn¡¯t uncommon. Give her some time, she was born this morning.¡±

    Ethan nodded. The little seed of doubt that had rooted itself into his chest faded away. The unknown stress only recognised after he felt lighter. Elm held out a helping hand, and Ethan grasped it. With a tug, the professor helped Ethan up. Forgetting about his injured foot, he winced as he put a little too much pressure on it, and the professor noticed. ¡°Hurt yourself?¡±

    ¡°Tinkatink slammed my foot with her hammer while she was asleep.¡± Seeing the worry in the professor''s face, Ethan waved it away. ¡°It¡¯s nothing too bad. Nothing broken, from what I can tell. It¡¯s going to leave a nasty bruise, that¡¯s for sure.¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­¡± The professor narrowed his eyes as he inspected Ethan, then smiled. ¡°You know your body best. After today, we should have enough data about the Oddish to sort through to last us a month. As much as I¡¯d like to stay until they fully sprout, I have other business to take care of back in Johto. We¡¯ll be out of your hair tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ Okay.¡± It was confusing, but Ethan was a little sad to see them leave his ranch so early. They¡¯ve barely gotten to know one another, and he had thought that they¡¯d stay for at least a few days longer. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll leave you to do your research and take a rest day.¡± He pointed at his foot. ¡°If you need anything, just come on by the house or ask one of my pokemon to fetch me.¡± He recalled the sleeping Skiddo, as he began limping away.

    ¡°Sounds like a solid plan, Ethan.¡± The professor gave him an understanding smile, then began setting up his machines from the day before.

    Shuckle was more than enough to take care of the berry fields for the day, and his new veggies and fruits wouldn¡¯t need much care as they were still growing. A day off wouldn¡¯t be an issue, and he could always spend the day working with his pokemon inside and making some much needed plans for the days to come.

    ¡ª----------------------------------

    Perhaps for the first time in her life, Jessie had an inkling of true terror coursing through her mind. Not once in all of her and James¡¯ years as Advanced Agents of Team Rocket had they ever been caught. Oh sure, the little twerp had caught them a few times, but the Pokemon League?

    If you got caught by the league, then you were done.

    She was in a dark room, handcuffed to a metal table which was bolted to the floor, just like her chair. There was no escape.

    As she blew her dark magenta bangs out of her face, the door, the only entrance and exit to the room, opened, and an older gentleman in a dark brown trench coat entered with a clipboard in hand. He looked stern, but was too focused on his notes to pay her any mind. He sat down in the chair across from her, not speaking for a solid two minutes as he read over his notes.

    Then, when he did finally speak, it was casual. ¡°Jessie, I presume?¡±

    Jessie thinned her lips. She wasn¡¯t going to answer any of their questions.

    The man looked up from his notes at her silence, then gave her a knowing head tilt and a slight grin. ¡°My apologies, Miss Musashi¡­¡± Hearing her last name for the first time in years caused her eyes to widen, and the man¡¯s grin widened in turn. ¡°... I am Agent Looker, of the International Police. I¡¯ve come to know a lot about you and the organization you represent in these last few months¡­ One Team Rocket.¡±

    ¡°Oh shit. Ooooh shit¡­.¡± Jessie thought that perhaps there was some miniscule chance that they had been picked up at random, but now all hope was out the window. The Meowth was out of the bag.

    ¡°Jessie Musashi, daughter of Miyamoto Musashi, former Elite Officer of Team Rocket. Partner of James Kojir¨­, and one Meowth¡­ who can evidently talk. You¡¯ve wormed your way through Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and now Sinnoh, following along the path of one Ash Ketchum. You¡¯ve done numerous missions, excuse me, poor attempts to capture the man¡¯s Pikachu. Please, stop me when I am wrong.¡±

    ¡°OH FUCK! OOOOOH SHIT!¡± Jessie thought, her face paling at every new reveal. They knew who they were. Like, really knew.

    ¡°Twenty seven years old, nearly 28.¡± The man paused, giving her an insincere smile. ¡°Happy early birthday.¡±

    The man placed his clipboard down, and Jessie stole a glance at it, seeing paragraphs of dense notes stacked neatly on the page, all handwritten. There had to be ten or twenty pages stacked on top of one another, and if they were like the first, they had everything. ¡°Believe it or not, you¡¯re not in as much trouble as you probably think you are.¡±

    She brought her eyes back to the Agent, who looked unhappy about what he had just said. For the first time, she spoke. Her voice echoing out in the¡­ interrogation room. ¡°And why is that?¡±

    Agent Looker stared unflinchingly at her, his gaze was unnerving and he was in complete control. ¡°One of our informants has spoken on your little team''s behalf. While you¡¯ve personally done bad things, they pale in comparison to the¡­ the atrocious things Team Rocket has done. Theft and attempted theft, property damage and vandalism, fraud and identity theft, kidnapping and abduction, assault and battery, pokemon poaching and environmental crimes, breaking and entering, smuggling, interfering with official Pokemon League events¡­ pokemon cruelty.¡±

    Jessie jolted forward in her chair, her handcuffs growing taut as she lunged forward. ¡°I do not abuse my pokemon!¡±

    Looker lazily raised an eyebrow, unmoved by her actions. ¡°I never said you did, but you have caged and kidnapped pokemon before? Or are you saying I am wrong?¡± He tapped the stack of papers on his clipboard, daring her to challenge his claim.

    She sat back down with a huff and looked away. Looker actually gave her a nod of respect as he read off more of his papers. ¡°Tell me, how did you feel when you and James released your Arbok and Weezing? I believe you both did so in an attempt to protect a group of wild Koffing and Ekans from a poacher?¡±

    Slowly, she slid her gaze back towards the interpol agent, her mind running at a thousand miles an hour. How did he know that? NOBODY should know that! That was impossible information to get a hold of. Did James or Meowth squeal? If so, why would that be the information they let loose?

    ¡°What do you want?¡± She asked, voice flinty.

    ¡°I want us to come to an understanding. Maybe a mutually beneficial one? After all, getting rid of Giovanni is going to be a team effort. Is it not?¡±

    Jessie¡¯s mind blanked at the name drop of the boss.

    They were fucked.

 Chapter 60

    James sat sullenly at the gleaming metal table he¡¯d been handcuffed to. His eyes only occasionally sliding over to the clock hanging up on the wall, its slow ticks the only sound in the room other than his occasional sighs and fidgets.

    They¡¯d been caught. It was bound to happen sooner or later, and he was under no illusion as to why they''d been brought in. They¡­ weren¡¯t ¡®good¡¯ people. He wasn¡¯t sure about how they got a hold of their plans to steal the adamant orb from Eterna City¡¯s museum, but they wasted no time tracking them down before they even had the chance to try. They weren¡¯t even in the city yet! Only barely having made it to Floaroma Town before getting snagged in a net. Dozens of Rangers, Police, and even the Eterna City gym leader were there, waiting for them the moment they arrived. Their disguises were useless when they knew what, or more precisely, whom they were looking for.

    The sound of the door hastily swinging open caused him to jolt upright, knocking him from his thoughts. A man in a long trench coat¡ªAn investigator?---entered inside with a clipboard. He looked rugged, with slightly unkempt brown hair, a five o''clock shadow¡ªHe¡¯d be shocked if the man didn''t smoke just by his appearance. It would be hard to copy his look if the need arose¡­ Facial hair was always hard.

    The man unceremoniously sat down opposite of him, then looked up from his clipboard with tired eyes. ¡°James Kojir¨­?¡±

    ¡°Ye-Yes, that¡¯s me.¡± He helpfully supplied as he leaned forward. ¡°Listen, I think there¡¯s been a huuuge misund¡ª¡±

    ¡°Growlithe are a great pokemon. Your parents chose well.¡± The man cut him off as he looked back down towards his clipboard, idly flipping several of the pages as he scanned their content.

    ¡°What...?¡± James uttered, baffled and slightly shaken. A sinking feeling, like a ball of lead, formed in his gut as he waited awkwardly for the man to answer.

    ¡°Growlie, your Growlithe.¡± The man looked back up from his papers with a hint of confusion. ¡°They¡¯re a great choice. Good on you for keeping him out of harm''s way. The path in life you¡¯ve chosen isn¡¯t the safest. Isn¡¯t that right?¡±

    He¡­ didn¡¯t know what to say. It was like all thoughts flooded out of his mind the instant he understood that this was it. There was no out. They knew too much.

    ¡°Tell me.¡± James¡¯ lost eyes snapped back to the investigator. ¡°Why join Team Rocket? You had a nice life in the past. Wealth, connections¡­ You had what most people would dream of. Why throw that all away?¡±

    His eyes darted down to the clipboard, spotting the pages of handwritten information sprawled out across what must have been two dozen pages. ¡°Freedom.¡± He answered, softly.

    The man nodded, then finally introduced himself. ¡°I am Agent Looker of the International Police.¡± Agent Looker leaned back in his chair and rested his hands on his lap. His eyes searched James¡¯ face for a moment before they softened. The agent continued. ¡°You are an interesting man, James. Do you ever take the time to imagine what your life would have been like if you just got married like your family wanted?¡±

    ¡°My past has nothing to do with my work.¡± James said, not wanting to talk to a stranger, name or not, about his troublesome childhood.

    Looker nodded once, then leaned forward again to look over his papers. ¡°I suppose you¡¯re right. It was simple curiosity. Do you know why you¡¯re here today?¡±

    James looked down at the giant red R emblazoned on his uniform. ¡°I have a pretty good idea.¡±

    ¡°No. I don¡¯t think you do.¡± The agent, once again, threw him a curve-ball. ¡°I have spoken with your companion, Jessie. We¡¯ve come to an accord with one another. As much as I would like to try your little group for your crimes, there¡¯s bigger fish in the sea. We want Giovanni. Help us, and you¡¯ll be free to go¡ªWith strict supervision, of course.¡± He finished with a rueful smile, and James wanted more information.

    ¡°May I speak with her? To¡­ make sure you''re telling the truth?¡± He asked, and Looker once again gave him an inspecting, curious look.

    ¡°No reaction to the name drop? The head honcho?¡±

    James shrugged, handcuffs linking him to the table clanging against the metal table. ¡°If I got to know who he is, it can¡¯t be that big of a secret.¡±

    Looker snorted, then nodded with a slight smile. ¡°That¡¯s not as true as you might think. We had inkling of his involvement, but not the whole picture. You¡¯re not loyal to them, you¡¯re loyal to Jessie and Meowth, is that right?¡±

    His past was troublesome, he knew that, and apparently so did this agent. After fleeing from his arranged marriage and being picked up by Jessie and Meowth, he joined Team Rocket because of them, not some foolhardy plan for world domination. Although he wasn¡¯t the sharpest of minds, he was practical and resourceful. Going from a life of luxury to nothing did that to someone. He¡¯d done his best to make sure that they never did anything too egregious as a group, and he still wasn¡¯t proud of a lot of the things they¡¯ve done, but he wasn¡¯t evil. Jessie and Meowth weren¡¯t evil either. They did¡­ bad things, but If he needed to throw Team Rocket under the bus to save them, he would, without a second thought.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    At the end of the day, he was in it for his friends, the sense of adventure, and freedom to live how he wanted. Not Team Rocket.

    With a nod, James spoke. ¡°That¡¯s right. Can you let me talk to Jessie? Confirm what you said? Also, where is Meowth?¡±

    Looker looked to the mirror wall on the side of the room and gave a subtle nod. It was a two way mirror. He¡¯d already figured that out on the way in, going by the door that led into the room next to them. If they were smarter, they¡¯d put the entrance to the spy room in a different hallway.

    A few seconds later, the door opened once again. Entering inside first was a Machamp. Its rippling muscles gave him no illusion as to why it was here. Right after the Machamp, held in one of its hands, was the connecting link from Jessie¡¯s handcuffs. Waddling alongside her was Meowth. Nothing bound him, but Meowth was no match for the fighting type playing security.

    He also didn¡¯t have a pokeball to lock him away, being a wild pokemon and all.

    James watched as Jessie¡¯s defiant glare softened into one of relief at his sight. Her testing tugs stopped immediately, seeing that he was safe. It warmed his heart, but they had more pressing matters to attend to.

    Looker took over leading Jessie from the Machamp, causing the body-builder to stand off by the doorway with crossed arms and a protective glare. He attached Jessie to the table by the handcuffs, as Meowth jumped on top of the table. The agent then sat back down across from them in his original seat, motioning for them to ask their questions and to speak with a lazy wave of his hands.

    Meowth spoke first. Surprising, given his attempts at hiding it most of the time. Although James suspected that everyone here already knew of his special ability. ¡°Not that I''m complain¡¯in, but why am I the one not locked up?¡±

    ¡°Not the time.¡± Jessie bit out. She turned to James and searched him up and down for any harsh treatment. ¡°They know.¡±

    James nodded, his blue hair bobbing with the movement. ¡°Indeed. Did you¡­ make a deal?¡±

    She slid her gaze to Meowth, who narrowed his eyes at the implication. ¡°We ain¡¯t no rats!¡±

    With a sigh, James responded. ¡°I think we might have to be. They already know who the boss is.¡±

    Looker jumped in before Jessie could add in her piece. ¡°We do. Tell me, Meowth. Were you ever given the chance to be his¡­¡± The agent raised his fingers and did some air quotes. ¡°Top cat¡±

    Meowth transferred his narrow-eyed glare to the agent, causing the Machamp to grunt from the other side of the room in warning. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for that pissy-puss, I would be!¡±

    ¡°Would you? I don¡¯t think Giovanni cares that much about you, if what information I have is to be believed.¡± The agent shot back, patting his clipboard.

    As Meowth¡¯s confidence faltered, Jessie got her chance to speak. She looked uncomfortable for a fraction of a second before asking James about what she¡¯d been told. ¡°Did you tell them about Arbok and Weezing?¡±

    ¡°No?¡± ¡°No.¡± Both James and Looker responded at the same time.

    James shot the man a glare before asking a question of his own. ¡°He said we were making a deal?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Yes.¡±

    Jessie shot a venomous look towards the now smirking agent. ¡°Will you stop that!¡±

    Agent Looker shrugged. ¡°Prepare for trouble, make it double.¡± The agent then sent another nod towards the two-way mirror. A few seconds later, the door opened once again.

    James, Jessie, and Meowth¡¯s faces paled and fell into despair as their eyes landed upon the blonde hair, confident gait, and fabulous dark coat the newcomer had as she made her way in.

    ¡°Oh, FUCK!¡± Jessie practically shouted, as the champion of Sinnoh approached them.

    Cynthia stared imperiously down her nose at each of them in turn, before unceremoniously raising her wrist and clicking a button on her watch. After a minor flash, she tapped some more on the attached touchscreen then smirked. ¡°That picture alone is going to make this trip worth it. Even if you three don¡¯t play nice.¡± Her smirk remained, but her eyes¡­ They were cold.

    She walked behind them, the only one able to keep eyes on her of their group being Meowth as he wasn¡¯t bound. She rested an arm on each of their shoulders, causing them both to flinch. ¡°Do you want to play nice? I think our deal is the best you¡¯re going to get¡­¡± Her grip tightened, causing James to release a very undignified whimper. ¡°The only reason you aren¡¯t being subjected to some of the league''s psychic pokemon¡ªwhich we have the right to do, as you¡¯re known terrorists¡ªis because someone very special has spoken on your behalf. Only after confirming your past deeds... Well, I''d take the chance they gave you.¡±

    She lowered her head over Jessie¡¯s shoulder, her blonde hair blocking most of her face. ¡°Do you still want fame, fortune, and recognition? To be a Pokemon Nurse? Maybe a little bit of a fashion model for some advertisements? We can make that happen.¡±

    She then leaned over, putting her above James¡¯ shoulder. ¡°Freedom? You won¡¯t have it here. Not with being locked away forever. Adventure? You could have gotten that without Team Rocket. There¡¯s adventure to be had¡­ Will you earn your freedom to go after it?¡±

    She then looked at Meowth, who was struggling to look confident beneath her gaze. ¡°Do you want the two people who took you in, who care for you¡ªTruly care for you, unlike Giovanni¡ªto not achieve their dreams? The only thing it costs you is information.¡±

    After a tense second of silence, Meowth spoke shamefully, but with purpose. For his friends. ¡°What¡¯cha wanna know?¡±

 Chapter 61

    ¡°Absolutely not.¡± Was the first words Ethan said as the phone connected, voice even as he held his phone in between his shoulder and his neck.

    ¡°Well hello to you too, Ethan. Did you get the picture? I¡¯ve already made a deal with them. They¡¯ve given more than enough information about the workings of Team Rocket to have us working for months.¡± Cynthia¡¯s smug voice oozed out through the speakers, causing Ethan to grimace.

    Ethan closed his laptop, stopping his research into creating habitats along his ranch, building with the help of pokemon, and all around self-sustained living. ¡°I don¡¯t care about whatever deals you¡¯ve made. I¡¯m not letting Team Rocket come to stay on my ranch. Their entire purpose was to steal pokemon. Rare pokemon, but pokemon nonetheless. If you¡¯ve forgotten, I have some rare pokemon.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re also the only person in the region apart from the League who knows them better than anyone else. You yourself said that they weren¡¯t evil, and Looker cross referenced your memories with them. They truly aren¡¯t bad people.¡±

    He had to give it to her, she was trying her best, but nothing was going to convince Ethan to let criminals be around his pokemon.

    ¡°Nope, not going to happen.¡± Ethan leaned back into his chair, bringing his hand up to hold onto the phone to spare his neck the strain. ¡°There is nothing you could give me to make this a reality.¡±

    ¡°Try me.¡± Cynthia¡¯s tone was testing. She really wanted this for some god knows reason.

    Ethan took the phone away from his ear and looked at it like it had grown another head. She wanted to negotiate? There wasn¡¯t much that he wanted, and most of his issues came from both his lack of current wealth and separation from society.

    He had plans. Plans to sell milk, berry juice, honey if he could round up some Combee and maybe a Vespiquen from Floaroma Town, but he was nowhere near producing any of those goods yet. Even so, once he had the goods, safety became a priority. Right now, he was coasting off his anonymity, which was already fading away, and his remote location.

    Flicking his eyes toward the couch, he spotted Munchlax and Emolga roughhousing with one another during a commercial break from one of the cartoon shows they started watching. One day, they would be put in a position where they had to defend their home¡­ and he didn¡¯t think they were prepared.

    And it was partly his fault.

    His lack of love for battling was rearing his ugly head, and he wasn¡¯t an idiot. Trouble would come for him and his sooner or later. Whether it be a deranged trainer, a wild pokemon, or worse, something bad was going to happen. It was a miracle he¡¯s made it this far already.

    Maybe¡­ maybe he needed to do some training for his pokemon.

    ¡°Ethan?¡± Cynthia¡¯s voice brought him back to the present.

    If his pokemon couldn¡¯t defend him or their home for now, he¡¯d need to pick up the slack. ¡°Do Officer Jenny¡¯s have firearms?¡±

    He could hear the surprise in her voice as she responded. ¡°A few in each city would carry some¡­¡±

    ¡°What kind? Pistols, assault rifles, shotguns?¡± Ethan asked, tone flat with his eyes locked onto his happy pokemon.

    ¡°Are you asking me to give you a gun?¡± Cynthia was blunt, and there was a steel in her voice, but she was correct.

    He was asking for a gun.

    ¡°Yes. Where I¡¯m from, everyone had the right to bear arms, myself included. I am no stranger to firearms, and have probably used them more than anyone in the region.¡± Ethan took a deep breath. ¡°I¡­ am afraid for the safety of my pokemon should someone come along with ill-intentions. People like Team Rocket. I have means to defend myself from simple troublemakers, but there is a limit. My pokemon aren¡¯t strong like yours. I would feel much safer with having a firearm to defend myself and my pokemon should the worst come to pass.¡±

    There was silence on the other side of the line for a while, so Ethan continued. ¡°You¡¯re basically asking me to be witness protection for criminals.¡± He tore his gaze away from his pokemon as the show resumed and they righted themselves on the couch with eager eyes to watch along. ¡°Jessie and James aren¡¯t pushovers. I would lose in a standard battle. So, I¡¯m not looking to get into a standard battle.¡±

    Still, silence reigned.

    ¡°I¡¯m not looking to shoot any pokemon. I¡¯d have better targets¡­ Do you understand what I am saying?¡± Ethan let that implication hang. He liked pokemon, loved them even. People? Evil people using pokemon for the wrong reasons? Well, he had steeled himself back in the USA for if that day came to pass. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    ¡°There¡­ are people with firearms for their protection. With your secluded location, I could make it happen.¡± Cynthia was hesitant, and he understood.

    ¡°If it helps, you can have someone test me for proper safety. All the rounds don¡¯t have to be lethal, though I¡¯d be adamant about having some lethal options on hand. Back home, there were many non-lethal options. Do you have the same thing here?¡± Ethan asked, offering an olive branch.

    ¡°Tranquilizers are common. I believe there are some rubber pellets as well?¡± He could hear it from her tone. She wasn¡¯t as informed as she¡¯d like to be, but given the topic, he¡¯d give her a pass.

    ¡°That would ease my mind.¡± He took a deep breath, preparing for what he was about to say to the champion of the region. ¡°You need to stop forcing things on me. The battle, I could understand. This? This isn¡¯t right.¡±

    He was firm, airing his grievances. ¡°You need to communicate with me. I am not some random lackey for you to thrust things upon. I am a simple man living in a forest. If you, as the capacity of champion, want to ask things of me, that is fine. Do not make decisions for me. Not ones that threaten the safety of my life or my pokemon. I¡¯ve gone above and beyond for the league by giving you all the information I had. Do not think I will sit here and let you trample over me.¡±

    Ethan doubted anyone had the audacity to speak to her in this way for a long time, but he wasn¡¯t joking around. ¡°Do you understand?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be in touch.¡±

    *Click*

    ¡ª--------------------------

    Cynthia sunk into the cushioned chair of her personal office in Celestic Town, staring at the PokeGear fastened to her wrist with scrunched brows tarnished her normally infallible face.

    Idly, she rhythmically tapped her fingertips across the heavy wooden table which held the majority of her personal documents. Many of which contained observations and notes about the ruins of Celestic Town, something she had just been delving into once again after learning about Ethan¡¯s otherworldly knowledge. Palkia, Dialga, Giratina, Arceus¡­ After all this time, stories from the past have begun to take shape.

    After sitting in silence for another minute, deep in thought, she came to a disheartening conclusion.

    She¡¯s made a mistake. No, not just a mistake. Multiple mistakes.

    She¡¯s grown accustomed to the heavy-handedness of bureaucracy, a reality she faces often as Champion of Sinnoh. From implementing regional policies to dealing with league administrators and officials, she¡¯s seen and felt how bureaucracy stifles progress and enforces decisions with little room for nuance. She¡¯s had to become her own authority. Navigating the expectations of those below her, where compromises often feel one-sided and progress moves at a frustratingly slow pace, has changed her.

    Red tape had no business when the fate of the region was at stake, and Ethan was the one who gave them the knowledge of what was to come. Not everything he knew was true, but a startling amount of it was. Team Galactic had already begun rooting themselves across Sinnoh, and they had absolutely no clue about them until he came along.

    She doesn¡¯t know Ethan. She knew of him, sure. But she didn¡¯t know him. Ethan is a man out of place, who lived in Eterna Forest with his pokemon on a ranch. He is a Move Tutor, a quite good one as well. He has interests in breeding, and she has even given him eggs to care for.

    Where is he from? Does he have family? What was it like where he used to live? What was his profession before he found himself in this world? What are his hobbies? What were his goals? What were his childhood dreams? Is he educated?

    She had no answers to those questions, yet time and time again she has thrust responsibility upon him, tested him, and arranged things for him without his consent.

    He¡¯d done the responsible thing, coming clean about his past and forewarning those he could about what he knew. It was the first thing he ever did. After a year of survival, lost, scared, and alone, the first thing the man did was let others know the threats the world faced¡­ and how did she repay him?

    She used her prestige to elevate his Move Tutoring to levels he wasn¡¯t prepared for, forced his very first battle to be versus her, The Champion, and now she¡¯s making decisions to have him watch over the trio of Team Rocket because she was told that Ethan had enjoyed them, even advocated for them in his own way¡­

    When they were fictional characters.

    As the door slowly opened, Cynthia flicked her sharp gaze up from the grain of her desk to the equally sharp eyes of her grandmother. Without a word, her grandmother closed the door behind her, then sat down in one of the chairs stationed for the rare meetings she held.

    Her grandmother knew her better than anyone, and immediately pressed the issue. ¡°What troubles you?¡±

    The words spilled out of her mouth. She confided her worries, actions, and mistakes and about the man who lived in Eterna Forest. What he¡¯s done for the region, for her, and for the world at large.

    Before she knew it, she was done. She¡¯d been speaking for ten minutes without pause, releasing the build up of tension and secrets that were not hers to share.

    Her grandmother, Professor Carolina, reached across the desk to place her hand comfortably on her own. "Responsibility.¡± Her grandmother patted her hand. ¡°Responsibility, Cynthia, isn¡¯t just about strength or knowledge. It¡¯s about understanding the weight of what you hold, the lives you touch, and the respect you show to others along the way. As Champion, your decisions ripple far beyond the battles you win. It¡¯s not enough to lead with power; you must lead with wisdom, care, and an unwavering respect for those who stand beside you and even those who stand against you. People will look to you¡ªDo look to you, not just for your skill, but for the integrity and kindness with which you carry yourself.¡±

    Cynthia closed her eyes as her grandmother continued. ¡°Always remember, true responsibility is measured not by what you achieve, but by how you uplift others, protect what truly matters, and treat everyone with dignity."

    Her grandmother¡¯s grip tightened, then she asked a question. ¡°Have you treated this man with respect and the dignity that he deserves?¡±

    Her lack of response was enough of an answer.

    ¡°Go.¡± The warmth of her hand faded away, and Cynthia opened her eyes.

    ¡°You know what you need to do.¡± Her grandmother slowly stood and left the room without another word.

    ¡ª-------------

    Minutes later, Cynthia was high in the sky on the back of Togekiss flying over Mt. Coronet.

    She had an apology to make.

 Chapter 62

    The flight from Celestic Town to Ethan¡¯s ranch wasn¡¯t much of an issue. Flying cut down travel times to a fraction of what was required on land. The routes maintained by the Pokemon Rangers were the only safe way to travel for the vast majority of people across the world, and they were few and far between.

    The trip to Ethan¡¯s Ranch, Berry Falls, was a two-hour flight. The ability to cross over Mt. Coronet to avoid taking Route 211 towards Eterna City to avoid its varying inclines, hazards, and pokemon was something she wished she could have done during her own journey.

    Ethan¡¯s ranch wasn¡¯t easy to find, even from an aerial vantage point and having been there before. His clearing, while large, was still a miniscule fraction of percent of the surrounding forests. Eterna Forest had an area of several hundreds square miles, with many breaks for clearing such as his own.

    When she found the familiar patch of colorful berry trees, the only real marker from so high in the sky, she spiraled down to land. Aiming for the open meadow, which now boasted a large, out of place, rocky cave. As she dropped low, her eyes locked onto the three humans inspecting nearby plants.

    It appeared that Ethan had some visitors.

    As Togekiss leveled out, sending gusts of displaced air down towards the ground, causing the surrounding grass to billow and wave about, Ethan¡¯s guests abandoned their research to approach.

    ¡°Well, well, well. Isn¡¯t this a surprise? How long has it been since we¡¯ve crossed paths Cynthia?¡±

    Looking towards the voice, Cynthia smiled. ¡°Last year at Oak¡¯s symposium in Saffron, I do believe Professor Elm. I have to say, I did not expect to meet you here. I didn¡¯t even know you were in the region. Trying to hide from me?¡± She teased.

    ¡°I would never!¡± He waved away her accusation with a warm but curious smile. ¡°Now, I don¡¯t mean to pry¡­ but what brings someone of your station to Mr. Reed¡¯s ranch?¡± Elm asked as his aides stared at her with the all too familiar look of awe and surprise.

    ¡°I could ask you the same thing.¡± Cynthia walked forward to give the esteemed professor a solid handshake.

    ¡°Priiii!¡± Togekiss spun in circles, eyes locked onto the field of berries ripe for the pickings.

    Elm noticed and inspected her travel companion, adjusting his glasses as his eyes turned inquisitive. ¡°What a fine pokemon. I¡¯m sure Mr. Reed wouldn¡¯t mind sharing his berries with you.¡±

    ¡°Prrrrriiiii!!!¡± Without another word, Togekiss glided across the meadow towards the field of berries, disappearing over the treetops.

    Cynthia raised a brow and shot Elm a sly smile. ¡°Ordering my pokemon around, are you?¡±

    ¡°A simple suggestion goes a long way.¡± Elm coughed, a little embarrassed. ¡°Now, what brings you to Berry Falls? I am here studying the natural births of a group of Oddish. Joyce Joy sent in the recommendation for study.¡±

    Cynthia¡¯s smile faltered. ¡°I¡¯m here to make an apology to Ethan. I wronged him, and am looking to make things right.¡±

    Elm nodded in understanding, but didn¡¯t pry. ¡°Well, I won¡¯t keep you. Although¡­ if you could do me a small favor while you¡¯re speaking with him?¡± He leaned forward to whisper. ¡°If you would, could you have your Lucario look over Mr. Reed for any signs of Aura? Joyce had suspicions, but my results were inconclusive.¡±

    ¡®Of course, Joyce is sticking her nose into matters beyond her control.¡¯ Cynthia would need to have a talk with her after this. They¡¯ve both been too heavy handed when dealing with a man who did his duty, and then wanted to be left alone. If Ethan, a man not born in a world with pokemon, had aura, she¡¯d eat a pokeball.

    From her waist, her ever faithful companion emerged from his Luxury Ball. Cynthia stood quietly, her gaze fixed on her Lucario as it stretched with fluid grace. The pokemon¡¯s sleek, cobalt-blue fur gleamed in the sunlight, contrasting with the sharp black patterns on its limbs and face. She knew he had a duty to find those with Aura, so he would do what was asked of him with or without her input.

    Lucario¡¯s red eyes locked with her own, then flickered over her shoulder. The subtle ripple of muscle under fur and the lowering of his stance cause her to spin around. Behind her, sneaking up from behind, a large, battle hardened Ursaring stood. Its claws were spread wide in anticipation, and its calm, murderous eyes sent a chill down her spine.

    Elm hastily, and bravely, shoved himself forward and spoke up. ¡°That is Ethan¡¯s pokemon! Ursaring, this is Champion Cynthia! Please do not¡ªDon¡¯t start a fight! She¡¯s here to talk with Ethan! Not to start any trouble!¡±

    The Ursaring¡¯s eyes flicked from Cynthia to Elm, then to Lucario, who had swiftly moved to stand before her. They all stood in a tense standoff for five seconds, each of the pokemon minutely posturing for any hostilities, before the soft cry of ¡°Teddi!¡± erupted from the cave off in the distance.

    Ursaring looked at Lucario, then spoke in a deep rumble. ¡°Ursaring, Ur-Urs¡­¡±

    Lucario heavily frowned, but eventually nodded and relaxed. The Ursaring walked backwards, much too quietly given her size, and never removed her eyes from them before eventually entering her cave, where more Teddiursa cries rang out.

    Telepathically, through their bond, Lucario spoke to her. ¡°She threatened to kill us if we hurt any of the pokemon or Mr. Reed, and she wasn¡¯t lying either. She¡¯s strong, but not strong enough to beat me.¡±

    That was worrying.

    ¡°I think it''s best for you to make your intentions clear. Go on and speak with Ethan. He can clear the animosity between you. That Ursaring is not a danger, I can attest to that.¡± Elm spoke, breaking the awkward silence.

    ¡°I think you¡¯re right. Is he in his house?¡± Cynthia asked, tearing her gaze away from the Ursaring¡¯s den.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    ¡°Yes. He¡¯s recovering from a minor injury. His newest pokemon gave him a solid, accidental wack to the foot.¡± Elm attempted to give her a smile, but it was strained.

    ¡°We¡¯ll speak more later. It was good to see you again, Adrian.¡±

    ¡°You as well, Cynthia.¡± And with that, she made her way off towards the simple wooden home off in the distance.

    Looking around the ranch, nothing much had changed since her last visit. The den for Ursaring and her presumed cubs were the only outlier as far as she could tell. She hadn¡¯t spent much time exploring previously, and now that she took her time, Ethan had a wonderful home. As the vibrant green leaves of the surrounding forest faded into their autumn hues and the chilling air of the season ran its way through the clearing, she could see herself sitting down next to a roaring bonfire as she enjoyed a relaxing vacation.

    As she made her way past the very subtle resting grounds of the Oddish who called this place home, she could hear the giggles of various pokemon, the faint sounds of very unique music, and then Ethan¡¯s voice.

    She paused at the door, listening in.

    He was singing. From outside, she couldn¡¯t make out the words to the song nor the music clearly, but she could tell that he was an above average singer.

    Peeking in through the nearby window, she saw Ethan sitting in one of the many chairs that surrounded his dining room table. He was singing to his pokemon, with his back turned towards her. The pokemon either made a complete mess of his living room, or they were allowed to toss all the couch cushions, blankets, and pillows from around the house onto the floor in a hodgepodge fortress of fluff for play.

    One of the pokemon caught her peeking, and its eyes crinkled in mischievousness. Extraditing himself from the mound of entranced pokemon, Smeargle wandered over to the door and silently opened it to let her in. The painter pokemon held a finger up to his lips and pointed to some of the unoccupied chairs surrounding the dining room.

    Before she could even respond, he slunk back off and rejoined the pokemon watching Ethan¡¯s little show with none the wiser. A few of the other pokemon noticed her take her seat, but wrote her off as they focused on Ethan¡¯s singing.

    The song gave a sense of optimism and the outpouring of love. She couldn¡¯t quite place the genre, as it was unlike anything she¡¯d ever heard before, but music transcended language¡ªand even perhaps worlds. Ethan was quite a good singer to be told, and he was definitely pouring everything he had into the song. Not wanting to interrupt, she sat and listened in as Lucario joined her side.

    ¡°? I hope you''re happy ?¡±

    ¡°? I hope you''re good ?¡±

    ¡°? I hope you get what you wish for ?¡±

    ¡°? And you''re well-understood ?¡±

    ¡°? And whatever your progress ? Whatever your progress ?¡±

    ¡°? I know you''ll be fine ? I hope you¡¯re fine ?¡±

    ¡°? Because I hope you''re happy ? I hope you¡¯re good ?¡±

    ¡°? Even if you''re not mine ?¡±

    ¡°? Try to remember that ?¡±

    ¡°? I, I, I, I hope you''re happy ?¡±

    Sadly, she must have caught the tail end of the song, as it ended only after a minute. Ethan reached towards an older, banged up looking phone and began swiping across its touch screen as the song ended. ¡°Ethan.¡±

    Turning in his seat, the man finally registered her presence. He instantly turned around to glare at the Smeargle, who at that moment, found the nearby walls to be most fascinating. ¡°You¡¯ve been my pokemon for less than a day and you¡¯re already betraying me. I see how it is.¡± The other pokemon in the fluffy fortress laughed at his expense, and she saw Ethan smile through his embarrassment.

    From where she sat, she could see all the pokemon having a fun time playing inside. Some were familiar; There was the Chatot and Pachirisu that she battled in the past, an adorable Shuckle, an excited and happy Munchlax, what had to have been the Emolga she¡¯d given him, now hatched, a quiet calm Skiddo, and a Tinkatink who was the most excited of the bunch. The little pink pokemon was swinging her tiny hammer over her head like there would be no tomorrow as she yelled and babbled.

    Tinkatink was a very rare pokemon outside of Paldea, and she wondered where he got his hands on one.

    ¡°Alright you guys, pick up the mess while I talk with Cynthia.¡± Ethan told his pokemon as he got up from his chair. With a notable limp, he dragged it towards her and sat close by. ¡°Are you here as Cynthia, or Champion?¡±

    That was a jab, and she felt it land. ¡°Cynthia. I came here to apologize to you for my previous behavior. I thought long and hard about what you¡¯ve said, and I realized that I have not been treating you with the respect or dignity that you deserve. For that, I am sorry.¡±

    Ethan ran his eyes across her face in an attempt to find out if she was being sincere¡ªWhich she was.

    ¡°I accept your apology, and I thank you for taking the time to come by and say it to my face.¡± Ethan looked serious. ¡°I can tell that you thought you were doing things for my benefit, and you were not malicious in your intent. Your character also speaks for you, so you are forgiven.¡±

    His eyes strayed toward Lucario, who stood stalwartly at her side. ¡°I assume your pokemon knows about me? Like, really knows?¡±

    ¡°No, he doesn¡¯t. Some secrets are yours to keep.¡± Cynthia replied.

    He nodded in response, then said something that caught her off guard. ¡°In my world, Lucario was a very popular pokemon. A favorite for many. Did you know that every single Riolu learns Aura Sphere when they evolve? At least, in my world, that is.¡±

    Cynthia blinked, unprepared for the sudden otherworldly discussion. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t know that. That might be the case here as well.¡± Lucario nodded along, but kept its eyes on Ethan.

    ¡°Do you know how Riolu evolves?¡± He asked, again catching her by surprise.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s a mystery, one that various researchers are still trying to uncover.¡± She said, and Ethan looked like he didn¡¯t believe her.

    Ethan looked at Lucario. ¡°How about you? Do you know how you evolved?¡±

    Lucario looked at her for a moment¡ªthe tiniest flicker of the eyes, but she noticed, then shook his head.

    ¡°Well, I do.¡± Ethan dropped that bomb in her lap with such¡­ casual ease that she didn¡¯t know what to say in response. He continued. ¡°You know, when I gave up all my knowledge to the league to prevent the disasters that I knew about, I thought that someone would come by and ask me more questions. They didn¡¯t. I was never good at battling in my world, but I knew things. Mega stone locations, pokemon evolution requirements, egg groups, egg moves¡­ I could go on, but nobody came to ask me about any of those.¡±

    He looked away from Lucario to look at her again, and she could see the hint of betrayal and sadness in his eyes. ¡°Almost everyone dropped me the second they got the information they needed. Joyce Joy stayed around, helped me, and became my friend. She didn¡¯t do it for information, or to shove work and duties onto me. She did it as a newfound friend. Agent Looker set me up with the basics for my home, which I am thankful for, and I am sure he is busy dealing with the many issues my knowledge caused, so he gets a little bit of a pass¡­ but you?¡±

    Ethan shook his head. ¡°You told everyone about my tutoring of Swinub, which caused a flock of trainers I wasn¡¯t prepared for to immediately swarm my ranch. Someone almost got someone killed.¡±

    ¡°Then, you battled me. The Champion of the region vs a complete beginner. At the time, I resented you for that, but I saw that you were trying to prepare me for this new life. What didn¡¯t help, is that people recorded it and it¡¯s all over the internet now. This has caused even more people to know who I am, where I am, and that I am weak.¡±

    ¡°And now you asked me to harbor criminals. Probably to have me be around people I am ¡®familiar¡¯ with, but I am not ready for that. My pokemon aren¡¯t ready for that. I forgive you, but please don¡¯t make any decisions that have anything to do with me before asking me beforehand. I am barely keeping it together as is.¡± He sighed and looked worn.

    They sat in silence for a few seconds before she said. ¡°I understand. I would like to know you better¡ªEthan Reed, not ¡®the man from another world.¡¯¡±

    ¡°That would be nice.¡± Ethan said with a slight smile.

    ¡°That it would.¡±

 Chapter 63

    Cynthia showing up unannounced should have been a surprise, but this was pretty par for the course. Ethan wanted to talk. He truly did. Whether it be out of some form of connection to people, or his desire of wanting to share information about himself, he wasn¡¯t sure. All he knew was that he was ready.

    ¡°So, are we going to take turns with questions? Because I have some questions of my own. Maybe you can ask a few and then I¡¯ll take my turn?¡± He asked as he twisted around to make sure his little family was cleaning up the mess they made in the living room.

    Cynthia and her Lucario shared a look, and appeared to be taking this seriously. Lucario was a little harder to read, but it was human enough in its mannerisms for Ethan to make some assumptions. ¡°That¡¯s fine by me. I¡¯ll go first. Ethan, before you came here, what was your profession? Were you trained in anything?¡±

    It was a fairly common question, all things considered. ¡°I went to college. I''m not sure if you have that here. It¡¯s a place of higher learning.¡± Cynthia nodded, so he carried on. ¡°I started off in Nursing school, then swapped my focus to Data Analytics. I worked for a real-estate business and mostly managed the payments of rents and mortgages. It was a nice, stable, but boring job.¡±

    ¡°Nursing?¡± Cynthia asked, obviously surprised.

    Ethan gave her a knowing smile. ¡°Yes, Nursing. I was hoping to be a mini Nurse Joy but for humans. I didn¡¯t get very far, so you can basically forget about me having knowledge beyond the basics.¡±

    Cynthia¡¯s Lucario looked impressed and respectful, giving him a nod of recognition. Cynthia looked at her pokemon, then spoke. ¡°If you¡¯re not aware, I think I should warn you. Lucario can tell the truth from lies with startling accuracy.¡±

    ¡°Not that I would begrudge you for omitting information.¡± She added as she sent a pointed look towards Lucario.

    ¡°Is it because of Aura?¡± He asked, looking at Lucario and not Cynthia.

    Lucario nodded, his eyes having a hint of intrigue. He looked at Cynthia, and she asked about what her pokemon wanted to know. ¡°What do you know of Aura?¡±

    ¡°Not much at all.¡± Ethan shrugged. ¡°I know there is a guy in the Iron Islands with Aura. He has a Lucario as well. An Aura Guardian, I think? I don¡¯t remember his name.¡±

    Without pause, Cynthia asked her next question. ¡°What do you know about Aura Guardians?¡±

    ¡°Pretty much nothing, other than I know about them. I don¡¯t know what they do. I think it has something to do with the Lucario Kingdom finding matches for Riolu? After all, Riolu can¡¯t breed. Only Lucarios can. I assume that¡¯s one of the reasons, but I may be completely wrong.¡±

    Ethan looked to the now shocked Lucario. ¡°By the way, the method by which Riolu evolves is by¡­¡± Ethan couldn¡¯t help but smile as both Lucario and Cynthia leaned forwards in anticipation. ¡°Friendship. Or, should I say the bond between trainer and pokemon? It might be slightly different here.¡±

    Ethan pointed over his shoulder to Munchlax, who was dragging the cushions of the couch back into place. ¡°Munchlax evolves into Snorlax in the exact same way. There¡¯s a lot of pokemon that evolve by friendship.¡±

    Lucario and Cynthia looked¡­ well, shocked wouldn¡¯t be the correct word¡ªDumbfounded, perhaps? He ignored them and carried on with a question of his own. ¡°For the record, I don¡¯t mind Lucario knowing my past. It¡¯ll be easier going forward for him to be in the loop.¡± Seeing as they were still recovering from his last revelation, he continued on with asking a question of his own. ¡°In this world, how safe is it in the wilderness? From all my interactions, I get the sense that people are surprised by my interactions with the wild pokemon.¡±

    With a frown, Cynthia responded. ¡°It¡¯s not very safe. Closer to the routes, you¡¯d be much safer. The pokemon there are accustomed to humans, and oftentimes seek them out to test themselves against wandering trainers and their pokemon. The farther off the beaten path you go, the more dangerous it becomes. Running into a group of Oddish this far away from Route 205¡ªThe route leading through Eterna Forest¡ªwould normally be deadly. They would assume you¡¯re a danger and take precautions. Which, in their case, means spraying you down with enough powder to kill you.¡±

    Ethan¡­ could see it. It¡¯s one thing to be told something was dangerous, and another thing to experience the danger. With him not having any issues with pokemon (Other than maybe the sand-attack back when he was looking for his first pokemon) it was hard to think that his little Oddish friends were walking disasters. Logically, he knew they were dangerous, but they weren¡¯t dangerous to him, nor his pokemon.

    Cynthia shared a long look with her Lucario, seemingly having a silent conversation, then spoke again. ¡°Joyce asked Professor Elm to run some tests on you. She was trying to discover why wild pokemon seem to be comfortable around you. Elm, quite underhandedly, ran some tests without your knowledge.¡±

    Ethan frowned. Seems like everyone wants to do stuff without my permission. He thought.

    ¡°You aren¡¯t a Psychic, and you don¡¯t have Aura, but something is different about you.¡± Cynthia shared another look with Lucario, and now he was sure that they had some means to talk to one another silently. ¡°According to Lucario, you are¡­ like an open book. Your emotions and intentions are on clear display.¡±

    Ethan was confused. ¡°So, I¡¯m what? The opposite of an empath?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± With a blip, a flop, and a fall, Ralts Teleported onto the table. She patted herself down, gave an embarrassed nod to Lucario, then turned to face Ethan as if she didn¡¯t just take a tumble. ¡°You are exactly that. I can tell your mood from across the house without even trying, and it¡¯s not just because of my species. I¡¯ve seen other humans, and I can read them, but you are exactly as described¡ªan open book.¡±

    Ethan looked across the table to Cynthia and Lucario to see if they were included into the telepathic conversation, and from what he could glean, they were. ¡°So, is this a bad thing?¡±

    ¡°Not at all.¡± Ralts said adamantly, her pinkish-red eyes flaring. ¡°It makes you trustworthy. Your intentions are clear. My species may be an outlier when it comes to sensing emotions and intentions, but all pokemon can feel something from others. The pokemon around here know you¡¯re not a threat. They don¡¯t need to ask, question, or find out your motives. They will just know what you want, or what you are feeling.¡±

    Well, that didn¡¯t seem too bad, all things considered.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t know you had a Ralts.¡± Cynthia murmured as she leaned forward to take in Ralts¡¯ tiny form.

    ¡°I don¡¯t. I am watching her while her mother is busy. Ralts is a wild pokemon.¡± Ethan said.

    ¡°This...¡± Cynthia sighed and gestured towards him. ¡°This is exactly the kind of stuff that has us all interested. Nobody just magically ends up watching a wild Ralts for their wild parents. It¡¯s just unheard of.¡±Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

    ¡°It¡¯s not like I go out of my way to make these things happen.¡± Ethan said in his defense. ¡°I haven¡¯t wandered into the forest looking for wild pokemon to befriend. I haven¡¯t even gone into the forest in weeks. My last visit was bringing the Magikarp and¡ª¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not saying that it¡¯s your fault, Ethan. It¡¯s not a bad thing.¡± Cynthia cut him off, ending his rant.

    Being told that you were some emotional beacon wasn¡¯t something you heard about everyday, and he may have instantly gone on the defensive. Truth be told, he wasn¡¯t sure if this was a good thing or a bad thing. He might have preferred to live in ignorance.

    Feeling off-kilter, Ethan changed topics. ¡°How important is battling. As a Champion, I know you have your bias, but I want the honest answer. Do I need to be a decent battler to defend what I own? Will people come to test my defenses? See me as an easy mark, so to speak?¡±

    ¡°TIIIIINNNNKKK!¡±

    Before Cynthia could answer, the battle cry of his little pink pokemon rang out through the room. The rapid thumps of her little feet rocketed out from the living room. Turning around, Ethan saw her object of focus, then cringed. With a very awkward lunge, Ethan swooped up the baby Tinkatink into his arms, spinning from the motion, and flinched from putting weight onto his injured foot.

    Tinkatink was strong, much stronger than a one day old had any right to be. He struggled to keep her in his grasp as she flailed and babbled nonsense. The rattle-hammer held high in the sky, coming down in fruitless attempts to attack the Champion¡¯s Lucario. It was, after all, a steel type with jutting metal spikes coming out of its hands and chest. ¡°Ah-ah-ah! No! Bad Tinkatink!¡±

    ¡°Blab-babababa! Tiiiink!¡± Tinkatink babbled, eyes zeroed in on her prize. Her struggles intensified, almost causing his grip to falter.

    Lucario barked out a disbelieving laugh, like, literally barked. The five foot tall pokemon sauntered forward and let Tinkatink give him a solid whack on the arm, which did absolutely nothing to the steel/fighting type.

    Tinkatink gave him another whack, before she looked at her hammer with confusion clear on her face. Her struggles stopped, and she softly wiggled to be put down. Seeing as things were calming down, Ethan set the pink gremlin onto the ground and watched her plop down onto her butt, right then and there. Tinkatink then proceeded to poke and prod at her hammer like it was dysfunctional.

    ¡°Sorry about that.¡± Ethan said, exasperated and embarrassed. ¡°She was born literally this morning. Well, at 2AM.¡±

    Lucario waved away his apology, then placed a hand on Ethan¡¯s shoulder. Before he could react, a surge of purplish energy shot out in rhythmic pulses from Lucario¡¯s hand. Instantly, it felt like Ethan had just gone through a professional massage. It only lasted around three seconds, but once Lucario was finished, he pointed to Ethan¡¯s foot, then mimed placing a lot of weight onto it.

    Testing his foot, he found that there was no pain. The pieces mentally clicked together. ¡°Heal Pulse?¡±

    Lucario smiled and nodded.

    ¡°Thank you very much.¡± Ethan thanked the jackal pokemon, as Cynthia got up from her chair to kneel down in front of Tinkatink.

    ¡°Was the other egg I gave you a Tinkatink?¡± She asked as she flicked her blonde hair out of her face.

    ¡°Yes. Joyce and Elm weren¡¯t entirely sure what would hatch, but they each had their guesses. I am unfamiliar with the species, but I¡¯ll do my best to make sure she¡¯s happy.¡± Ethan paused, took a deep breath, then carried on. ¡°I think she¡¯d enjoy battling. I¡¯ve only known her for the day, but going off the information I looked up, she would fit into battling nicely. In the wild, they hunt for steel type pokemon.¡± He threw a quick glance over his shoulder to make sure Chatot and Pachirisu weren¡¯t listening in. ¡°Pachirisu and Chatot, as much as they try to hide it, also enjoy battling. I think they are disappointed with me.¡±

    ¡°I think learning the basics of how to train your pokemon and getting into some battles would be good for you and your pokemon.¡± Cynthia must have seen his slight grimace. ¡°Tell me, what are your worries?¡±

    Ethan sat back down, his eyes on Tinkatink as she fiddled with her hammer. ¡°I¡¯m worried that I will let them down and let them get hurt for no reason. But, I am also worried about people coming here and starting trouble¡ªTrouble that they won¡¯t be prepared to defend against because I didn¡¯t train them and they¡¯re inexperienced.¡±

    Ethan looked away from Tinkatink to find Cynthia staring at him, giving him her undivided attention. ¡°This is my home¡­ and I am in a different world. At some point, I guess I decided that everywhere else was dangerous. When I was lost and stranded, if I left my clearing for too long, I would get lost or run into pokemon. The first time Ursaring came to my clearing, I thought I was going to die. I survived here and know that this place is safe¡­ I think I am just scared of change and the failure that will happen when I choose to change. We both know there would be ups and downs if I started to battle. If you don¡¯t remember, I was never any good at it when it was a game.¡±

    Cynthia patiently waited for him to continue, so he did. ¡°When pokemon was a game, it was turn based. You choose a move, then I choose a move. Pokemon could only have four moves at any given point in time. You could use your turn to use a move, an item, or switch your pokemon. The main competitive scene was focused on double battles¡­ I always lost, so I ended up just collecting all the pokemon in the games and breeding them to the best of their abilities. I had them learn egg moves and stuff¡­ Sometimes I would go and try to find a shiny pokemon.¡±

    He shrugged. ¡°This isn¡¯t a game anymore. If I mess up in battling, it isn¡¯t just a little health bar going down. They get hurt for real.¡±

    At the end of his little spiel, Cynthia got up and walked back to her chair. She brought it closer to him, then sat down. Lucario kept his eye on little Tinkatink, but still listened in on the conversation. ¡°I understand.¡± She patted her pokeballs. ¡°These are the things you learn when you go on your journey, or when you go to school. When I look at you, I see a man who cares deeply for his pokemon. You and your pokemon are close, much closer than many. It¡¯s hard to see you as someone who doesn¡¯t have experience.¡±

    ¡°For most people, connecting with pokemon is the hardest part of their journey. Each pokemon, even from the same species, are different from one another. Take my Glaceon for example. She doesn¡¯t mind battling, but that isn¡¯t something she wants to do all the time. When people begin their journey, they want to win. They want to be the very best, getting badges and proving to themselves they have what it takes. Winning is the only thing they focus on. They forget that not every pokemon wants to win, some just want to grow strong. Winning and growing strong aren¡¯t mutually exclusive, but they aren¡¯t the same.¡±

    ¡°For many pokemon, growing strong is how they survive in the wild. You¡¯re not a child, you understand what happens in this forest better than most. Some pokemon hunt each other to survive, strength determines living or dying on a day to day basis.¡±

    Ethan glumly nodded. He¡¯s seen Ursaring come back from the forest after hunting.

    Cynthia continued. ¡°You are a vegan. You don¡¯t like to see pokemon hurt or die. I can respect that. I truly can, but there is a difference between getting hurt to better yourself and hurting others to win.¡± She pointed at Tinkatink. ¡°Tinkatink was born today, and she already sought out an opponent to better herself¡ªLucario¡¯s metal to improve her hammer. While she doesn¡¯t realize the danger, as she is still a baby, she knows what she wants and needs. You, as a trainer, would be her guiding hand. You would help her with her goals, and she would help you with yours. Normally, that would be winning badges, but for you¡­ I think you just want someone to help protect what you love, because you realize you can¡¯t do it all yourself.¡±

    Cynthia paused, and Ethan nodded once again, not knowing what to say. She took a deep breath, then put the final nail into the coffin. ¡°You are failing them by not helping them grow¡ªNot all of them, as some are perfectly fine living on your ranch, but some of them, and you know that in your heart. If you stumble and fall along the way while helping, I think that''s much better than never trying at all. Bonds are formed through working together, and I for one, would love to see how powerful you and your pokemon''s bonds become. Right now, your bonds are already strong, but in the future? After training, battling, and growing stronger? I think you¡¯d be surprised by how much closer you and your pokemon could become.¡±

    Ethan closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. ¡°There¡¯s a battle that''s been a long time coming. Want to help me with it?¡±

    Cynthia gave him a smirk and stood up, patting down her trench coat as she did so. ¡°Why not?¡±

    With a loud yell, Ethan called forward two of his pokemon. ¡°Chatot! Pachirisu! Come here!¡±

    Within moments, Chatot fluttered out of the guest room and landed on the table. She tilted her head curiously at him, waiting to hear what he called her for. Pachirisu scrambled out of Ethan¡¯s room, rocketing up his leg and onto his shoulder in the blink of an eye. His fluffy tail curled around his neck for support.

    Ethan looked at his pokemon, then to Cynthia. ¡°I think it¡¯s time to see who claims the right shoulder. Ready to battle?¡±

    ¡°Pachi!!!¡±

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot!!! ?¡±

 Chapter 64

    Ethan stood against Cynthia on the training field once again, but this time it was his idea to start a battle. It probably wasn¡¯t a good idea to have the first two battles you¡¯ve ever taken part in be against the champion of the region, but if word somehow gets out, he can at least brag about it.

    Not many people could claim to have battled the champion, and even less could claim they did so twice.

    With a final deep breath, Ethan looked down at his partner for this battle. Unlike last time, Chatot and Pachirisu each had a trainer. While Cynthia gets to order about Chatot, Ethan gets to test his bond with his very first friend. As he knelt down to talk, Pachirisu looked up at him with a smile that was rare to see.

    Oh, Pachirisu smiled. Ethan has seen him laugh, smile, over-exaggerate, and play little tricks, but this smile was different. His little electric squirrel was so excited. Pachirisu¡¯s fluffy tail swung back and forth with a mix of excitement and impatience, obviously ready to battle.

    ¡°Okay, Pachirisu. Before we start, let''s make a plan.¡± Ethan said with a hint of seriousness. ¡°This battle is for your spot. Chatot has been eyeing it since her loss, and she won¡¯t go down easily.¡±

    That got Pachirisu¡¯s attention. Pachi¡¯s tail stopped swinging and his brows furrowed as he realized the stakes at hand.

    ¡°Good. You understand what¡¯s at stake.¡± Ethan gave a rub to Pachi¡¯s head, much to his embarrassment. ¡°Now, in this battle, anything goes. This means you can use Super Fang¡­¡± The glint in Pachi¡¯s narrowed eyes and his suddenly smug face was quickly wiped away as Ethan continued. ¡°... and Chatot can use Boomburst.¡±

    Pachirisu¡¯s face morphed into sheer disgust at the mention of the move.

    Ethan shrugged and tried his best to hide his conflicted emotions. ¡°She wants to give it a try, and she knows it may hurt her. I can¡¯t stop her from training it forever. We also have a healing machine now. You both can rest up after the battle, so this one¡¯s a little more serious.¡±

    Pachirisu nodded and mumbled his name, speaking to himself while deep in thought. ¡°Cynthia, the Champion, is also going to be her trainer for this battle. As much as I would like to give reassurances about that, I think we both know I¡¯d just be lying to you.¡± Pachi easily nodded in agreement, which might have hurt Ethan¡¯s barely existent ego. ¡°But, you have the type advantage. Your Electric moves will hit hard. If you manage to ground her, your odds of winning soar.¡±

    ¡°Listen to my commands when you hear them, just like when we danced. If I don¡¯t say anything, do what you think is best. Trust goes both ways.¡± Ethan looked his eager, but confident friend in the eyes, and they nodded to one another at the same time. ¡°Go, show¡¯em why you have the right shoulder.¡±

    ¡°Pachi!!!¡± With the prep talk and strategy out of the way, Pachirisu scampered off into the field and waited for Chatot and Cynthia to finish their own strategy meeting.

    Deciding who got which of his pokemon as partners was a slightly difficult conversation. Chatot wanted to win with him, and as much as he agreed with that sentiment, she had a higher chance of winning with Cynthia¡ªThat was just a fact. As she was the loser of the last match, it was only fair that she got the stronger of the two trainers as a handicap. Type advantage also played a part in that decision. Cynthia would know how to play at a disadvantage.

    After a solid fifteen seconds of watching Pachirisu aggressively shadowbox the air in front of him, the fluttering of wings and a cry of melodious courage dragged his eyes to their opponents.

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot!!! ?¡±

    Both pokemon stared at one another from opposite sides of the field. Rarely, ever did Ethan feel any sort of tension, mostly just the general stress of living, but even he could feel the competitive atmosphere growing to a climax. Throwing a quick glance toward Cynthia, he saw the moment her confident smile widened into a grin.

    ¡°This will be a one on one battle! The battle will end when a pokemon is unable to continue! Trainers, pokemon, are you ready?¡± Professor Elm¡¯s voice cut through the building tension like a knife. He was standing in the midfield, playing referee for today''s bout.

    Everyone nodded, Chatot and Pachirisu settled into their stances, and without further ado, Elm called out. ¡°Begin!¡±

    ¡°Pachirisu! Dig!¡±

    ¡°Fly.¡±

    Ethan and Cynthia both immediately sent out their commands, causing Pachirisu to quickly burrow into the ground, sending chunks of earth and dirt flying into the air, and Chatot to let loose a large gust of air as she lifted off into the sky for aerial superiority.

    Chatot¡¯s keen eyes scanned the field below her as she circled like a vulture, waiting for the moment Pachirisu came to the surface.

    ¡°Ethan, I know you¡¯re a beginner, but ground type moves versus a flying type? I thought you¡¯d know better.¡± Cynthia taunted with an overly casual voice. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve battled with a pokemon that isn¡¯t my own.¡±A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    Ethan kept his eyes locked onto Chatot as he responded. ¡°Well, this just proves that I know my pokemon better than you do.¡± A second later, he called out. ¡°Pachirisu! Super Fang!¡±

    A large plume of dirt erupted from the center of the field, right below the circling Chatot. The dust from Dig occluded the sky for a split second, but that was enough time for Pachirisu. With his signature launch and the element of surprise, the battle was truly underway. As his form broke past the wall of dust, his mouth was open and his two buck-teeth were shining in a brilliant white light as he zoomed upwards in a devastating attack.

    Super Fang was a powerful move, which cut the opponents HP in half. Although Ethan wasn¡¯t sure if it was as dangerous as it sounded in real life, it worked wonders in the game.

    It was a shame that he wouldn¡¯t find out, as Chatot¡¯s aerial superiority let her swifty dive to the side out of harm''s way. She easily dodged as her tail swished back and forth, locking into the gentle ticks and tocks of a metronome. A gentle wave of white pulsed outward, but the mystery move didn¡¯t seem to do anything else.

    ¡°Eerie Impulse on your way down!¡± Ethan shouted, and Pachirisu followed. With a deft twist in the air, using his tail as a lever, Pachi scrunched up his body and let loose a static ray of electricity which blasted right through Chatot, lowering her special attack.

    As Pachirisu landed in a rough thump onto the ground, taking some damage from the fall, Ethan¡¯s throat constricted in worry.

    ¡°Hyper Voice.¡± Cynthia commanded, voice calm, cool, and collected.

    Chatot stabilized in the air, then sucked in a deep breath.

    ¡°CHA!!!¡±

    Ethan had to cover his ears as the visible ripple of rainbowish energy blasted outwards in all directions, slamming into both himself and Pachirisu. Pachirisu was visibly knocked back, skidding across the dirt and rolling from the hit.

    ¡°You can¡¯t dodge her moves without Dig! Even then, you might still take some damage! Use Swift!¡± Ethan shouted, hoping that his furry pal could at least still hear.

    ¡°Pachi!¡± Pachirisu shouted a cry, then did a backflip, flicking his fluffy tail outwards and releasing a stream of speckled stars. Chatot zoomed across the sky, doing her best to dodge the attack, but those she dodged quickly changed trajectory and trailed over her, eventually all landing in a peppering of blows.

    ¡°Keep at it!¡± Ethan called out as he tried to think of a way for Pachirisu to get in close.

    Air superiority was just as effective in battles as it was in war. Pachirisu¡¯s didn¡¯t have many ranged attacks; Swift and Seed Bomb, and Seed Bomb wasn¡¯t very effective versus a flying type.

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot!!! Toot-toot-tooooooot! Tot-Chatot! ?¡± Chatot chattered to herself in the air, sending forward another ring of rainbow notes down toward Pachirisu. Ethan couldn¡¯t even get a word out before they collided with Swift, causing a small explosion midair. Sadly, one of the musical notes got past the barrage of stars, slamming into Pachirisu and causing him to teeter on his feet.

    Chatter is such a broken move. Ethan complained in his mind, as he watched Pachirisu¡¯s eyes blink blearily in confusion. ¡°Dig! Dig Pachi!¡±

    Hearing his command, Pachirisu spared him a glance, blinked, then looked to the ground. Thankfully, his pal began digging as fast as he could, but not before a large green-coated brown seed slammed into the hole, causing another small explosion.

    Looking up, he caught the tail end of Chatot ruffling her feathers after using the move¡­ Seed Bomb?

    It took Ethan a single second to realize what had happened. Oh, my smart little bird¡­

    Mimic was a move Chatot knew, and it seems like the mystery move from earlier was just that. She¡¯d stolen Pachirisu¡¯s Seed Bomb, a physical ranged move which would ignore the special attack drop from Eerie Impulse¡ªOne that was neutral damage.

    Ethan waited with bated breath as the dirt settled, hoping that his friend didn¡¯t lose so swiftly. The Seed Bomb left a large divot into the ground, but Pachirisu was nowhere to be seen.

    ¡°Pachirisu! If you can hear me, wait out the confusion!¡±

    ¡°Like, I¡¯d let that happen.¡± Cynthia challenged. ¡°Chatot, land and Boomburst into the hole. Don¡¯t let him recover.¡±

    Chatot fluttered down, landed into the divot the Seed Bomb caused, then began taking rapid deep breaths. She bopped from foot to foot, hyping herself up, before sending a glare into the hole Pachirisu dug to escape. With an enormous final breath, one that expanded her small feathered chest, Chatot let loose a thunderous vocal boom.

    ¡°CHATOT!!!!!¡±

    Ethan, from a solid thirty feet away, felt the ripple of air from the move. His bones rumbled and shook from the blast of bass-boosted soundwaves, even when they were directed straight into the ground.

    As soon as he felt the blast of sound, another explosion of dirt sprang up from directly behind Chatot on the side of the small divot. A flash of white, blue, and yellow blurred outwards from the newly created hole, slamming into the now grounded Chatot.

    The two pokemon clambered and wrestled with one another. Chatot began to Peck, her beak shining with a coat of sky blue, and Pachirisu rubbed his face and chubby cheeks across any part of her that he could. Then, the original blast of Boomburst boomed out of the newly created exit hole, blasting through both pokemon with visible waves of pressured air.

    Both rolled, tumbled, and flopped across the field from the force of the attack, eventually coming to a stop right next to one another. Pachirisu was still, only the gentle rising of his chest letting Ethan know that he hadn¡¯t just accidentally killed his own pokemon in a battle for a stupid shoulder position. Chatot twitched and spasmed, arcs of paralyzing electricity coursing through her body as she lay there on the ground.

    Everyone waited to see if either of them would stand. Cynthia looked on with an imperious expression, Ethan held a clenched fist to his heart with a face full of worry, and Elm watched on with a squinted eye focus.

    Slowly, one of the pokemon began to stir. It looked like it took tremendous effort, but the hardened gaze in their eye showed that they wanted this win. That they deserved it. One foot, then the next¡­

    With a feeble flap of her wings, Chatot cried out in a weak, nearly silent. ¡°Cha¡­ tooo¡ª¡± before falling back down, unconscious.

    Elm raised a hand. ¡°Chatot wins!¡±

    Without waiting, Ethan instantly recalled both of his pokemon into their pokeballs and ran back to his home as fast as his feet could take him.

 Chapter 65

    Ethan sat at his table while the Healing Machine worked its magic. His eyes never left the tiny screen that displayed the current condition of his two pokemon. Everything was fine, according to the readings, but the little bit of worry never faded.

    ¡°You did well.¡± Cynthia stated from behind him as she pulled up a chair. He¡¯d heard her enter with Elm earlier, but ignored them for the moment. ¡°It''s clear to me that Pachirisu and Chatot like battling. I think with some practice, you wouldn¡¯t let them down.¡±

    ¡°They loved it.¡± Ethan said, voice conflicted. ¡°Do you ever stop worrying? You know, about their injuries?¡±

    He felt Cynthia place a hand on his shoulder. ¡°Eventually. When I was young, I did the same thing you¡¯re doing now. I waited at the pokemon center for an hour straight, pacing a hole into the floor.¡± She gave him a gentle squeeze. ¡°Pokemon are tough. They aren¡¯t like you and me. I am telling you right now, there was no danger to their lives¡­ Real life and death battles are vicious and usually one sided. I pray you never have to experience one.¡±

    Ethan was silent for a moment, taking in the information. ¡°I was surprised there weren''t any bruises¡ªYou know, blood and stuff.¡±

    The voice of Elm answered his unasked question. ¡°It¡¯s because of the energy pokemon use for their moves¡ªType Energy. When pokemon grow, their internal reservoir of energy also increases. This energy acts as a buffer. It can be actively used for moves, but it is always passively used for their defence.¡±

    Cynthia continued for the professor, saying what he didn¡¯t want to say. ¡°When your pokemon faint, and then take damage¡­ that¡¯s when you will see injuries. The stronger the pokemon, the more powerful their moves and the more hits they can take. More energy equals a stronger pokemon. Of course, skill, strategy, and proper health can make up the difference. If that wasn¡¯t the case, there wouldn¡¯t be trainers at all.¡±

    Ethan twisted to face them, trusting the machine to do its work. ¡°So, they aren¡¯t physically hurt? Like, at all?¡±

    Elm nodded with a reassuring smile. ¡°They¡¯re fine, Ethan. Although, there are rare circumstances in which a pokemon can be injured or even killed outside of fainting; such as fighting a pokemon that simply overpowers their passive energy defences, natural causes like illness, or simple accidents. If a pokemon falls off a cliff or is caught in a collapsed mine, then they will be hurt. Some Status effects can also be deadly. Poison, for example.¡±

    Elm looked at Cynthia with a questioning gaze as he fidgeted with his glasses. ¡°Cynthia, may I have a word in private?¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡± Cynthia followed the professor into the kitchen, and Ethan heard the door to his patio open and close, leaving him alone.

    He still had so much to learn about the world. Being cut off from others was really showing him his lack of knowledge. He could look up the information online, but if he doesn¡¯t know what he¡¯s supposed to be looking for, then that doesn¡¯t really work.

    Elm was pretty suspicious of him now. Which, to be honest, was warranted. Ever since their little walk around the ranch and introduction to his pokemon, Elm had been a little off in their interactions. Asking questions everyone else probably already knows was probably a red flag, and these questions he just asked about pokemon damage might have been the final straw. He''d eat his shoe if they weren¡¯t outside and talking about him.

    A gentle poke to his side knocked him out of his thoughts. Looking over, Ethan saw Smeargle giving him a comforting smile. Ralts was with him as well, sitting on top of his beret¡¯d head, dangling her tiny feet over the rim.

    ¡°I can feel your worry and concern from the guest room. It¡¯s too much.¡± Ralts telepathically spoke, a hint of condescension in her tone. She pointed to the Healing Machine. ¡°They will be fine. Do you think they never got into battles before they met you? That they¡¯ve never experienced this before? Even I have battled foes!¡±

    She got heated towards the end, as she jumped across the small gap between him and Smeargle to land on his left shoulder. With a small glare, she stared into his eyes. After Ethan looked away, downtrodden, she frowned and smacked her cheeks. When she spoke again, her mental voice was quiet. ¡°Ah, my dear and gentle companion, I try to forget how your kindness shines like a gilded star amidst the harsh shadows of this world. Yet, I fear that very brilliance leaves you unguarded, vulnerable to the cold winds of reality."

    She patted his head as she leaned in closer, her voice soft yet resolute, as though imparting wisdom beyond her years. "Yours is a heart too tender, a soul too pure, for the jagged edges of this realm. You give without measure, trust without hesitation, and see the best in all. Such virtues, noble as they are, may be a heavy crown to bear in a world that oft forgets its own harmony.¡±

    ¡°Ralts, do you know where I am from?¡± He asked, eyes swiveling back to the Healing Machine.

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Well, I am not even from this world.¡± He said, gesturing around himself. ¡°Last year, I just appeared here¡ªAnd I mean here. In this small clearing in the smack dab of nowhere. There were no pokemon where I was from. I have no friends or family here for me, I only have you pokemon. I lost everyone once, I am scared to lose them again.¡±

    Ethan heard a tiny thump, and he looked over to find Smeargle gaping at him. The poor painter''s tail no longer clenched firmly in his hands, but flopped listlessly on the floor. Ethan shrugged. ¡°If I battle, I am afraid I¡¯ll lose you guys during it. If I don¡¯t battle, I am afraid that you¡¯ll leave me to find someone who will battle with you.¡±

    Ethan reached up and grabbed Ralts, taking her from his shoulder and setting her in his lap. ¡°You¡¯re not my pokemon, and I know that not everyone would like to go out to battle, but some of you guys do. So, I¡¯m in a rough spot.¡± He ran a finger gently over Ralt¡¯s head, over her horn, causing her to fidget. ¡°I just need time. I need to figure out what I want, what my pokemon want, and how to achieve each of our goals.¡±

    Ethan then flicked her in the back of the head, causing her to gasp an audible, ¡°Ral!¡±

    He grinned when she turned to glare at him. ¡°That¡¯s for being mean to me. You punk.¡±

    As was foretold, Ralts turned and started to wail at his stomach with feeble kicks and punches while growling. Smeargle chuckled, amused at the swift turn of events and plucked the little psychic off of him by the scruff of her toga-esque neck. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    ¡°Thanks, Smeargle¡± He flashed the painter a grin. ¡°If you can do me a favor, can you go around and ask all the pokemon if they¡¯d be interested in training or battling? We won¡¯t be going for the gym badges like your old trainer did, but we could train, learn moves, and battle the occasional trainer working their way through the forest. Who knows, maybe we can enter a little tournament.¡± He pointed off to the quest room. ¡°Paint or write me a list of names. We can talk about other things they may want to try as well. I think there¡¯s competitions for contests? Singing, painting, dancing¡­ that sort of thing?¡±

    Smeargle nodded, stuck out his tongue in a happy smile, then scampered off with Ralts flailing in his grip towards the guest room to collect his supplies.

    A minute later, Ethan waved to Smeargle as he carried some of his painting supplies outside, with a pouting, criss-crossed armed Ralts thrown under his arm. Then, the Healing Machine made a very familiar sound.

    ¡°Ding, ding, ding, Du-Ding!¡± Like a blast from the past, the ever familiar pokemon healing sound from his childhood signified the end to Chatot¡¯s and Pachirisu¡¯s healing. With a gentle click, the see-through plastic shielding unlatched from the top of the machine, allowing Ethan to grab their pokeballs.

    Instead of releasing them then and there, he decided to ask Elm and Cynthia if it was wise. For all he knew, they could still be weakened and need rest. He escaped out of his house through his kitchen patio door, finding Cynthia and Elm talking to one another in subdued tones. They both paused their conversation, turning towards him at his entrance.

    He raised a hand, showcasing the two pokeballs. ¡°Came to ask if it was wise to let them out, or let them rest.¡±

    They both smiled, and Elm answered him. ¡°Let them rest for now. No battling or training for at least a day. That¡¯s the standard procedure.¡±

    ¡°Good thing I asked then, because I don¡¯t know the standard procedure.¡± Ethan replied with a casual nod as he clipped the balls onto his vest.

    ¡°Ethan¡­¡± Cynthia warned with a frown of displeasure, sensing the way the conversation was going.

    ¡°So, anyway¡­ Professor, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve realized I am a little weird¡ªYou know, being twenty-nine and not having some pretty basic information and all that.¡± Elm gestured for him to continue. ¡°I¡¯m not from anywhere in the Pokemon League. I¡¯m from somewhere else where we don¡¯t have pokemon, but have records and information about them in droves. I would very much appreciate it if you didn¡¯t ask about my origins, but you¡¯re free to ask about pokemon related stuff.¡± Ethan watched as Elm tilted his head in confusion, but the shining glint of research shined thoroughly in his eyes.

    ¡°I dare say, that definitely connected some dots. Some things just weren¡¯t adding up, and not everyone gets the Champion to visit their humble abode to apologize.¡± Elm laughed as his phone suddenly rang. He dug into his lab coat, withdrawing his phone, then grew excited. ¡°Perhaps another time. Chase is witnessing Gloom care for the saplings! I don¡¯t want to miss it!¡±

    Before he or Cynthia could respond, he was sprinting down the stairs, coat fluttering in the wind, and off into the meadow for his research.

    ¡°That man doesn¡¯t change.¡± Cynthia sighed with a fond smile before turning her gaze to Ethan. Her smile faded, replaced with the confident visage of the region''s champion. ¡°I should get going as well, but I need to know your answer regarding Jessie and James. I¡¯m not speaking as Cynthia, I am speaking as Champion. We have interests in them, and your ranch is out of the way, watched, and on a priority list. If they try to run, which I don¡¯t think they will, they will be apprehended quickly. If they start trouble, well, I suppose what you asked for is going to come in handy.¡±

    Ethan sighed and looked her dead in the eyes. ¡°Why me?¡±

    ¡°You know them. Maybe not exactly, but you know them. The league has a vested interest in you and them, and I¡¯m not going to lie to you and say that we don¡¯t have eyes checking in on you once in a while.¡±

    She looked slightly ashamed to admit that, but it didn¡¯t really hurt his feelings. If some random dude showed up, went to the police, told them about the future and it was right? Well, he¡¯d be looking after that person too. Cynthia gestured around his ranch. ¡°Looker facilitated the building of this place, helped you get some of your basic needs, and paid for it. From what I know, if you don¡¯t use any electricity for three days in a row, an alert is sent as an alarm. You have a League Porygon in your laptop, and Ranger Patrols have been scheduled along your offshoot path from Route 205.¡±

    Ethan nodded along, sighing but understanding¡ª

    ¡°Wait, there¡¯s a Porygon in my laptop!?¡± Ethan nearly screamed in shock, his loud voice causing a gentle ripple of warning sounds from below the patio.

    ¡°Odd¡­¡±

    ¡°Oddish¡­¡±

    ¡°Oddddddd.¡±

    ¡°Sorry.¡± Ethan said with a wince, pacifying the sleeping Oddish.

    ¡°You do. It makes sure nobody sends cyber attacks or tries to track your location.¡± Cynthia nodded, then gestured inside. Ethan led the way, coming back to his table and grabbing his laptop. He flipped it open and spoke to it, looking like a madman. ¡°Porygon? Are you there?¡±

    For a few seconds, nothing happened, and Ethan thought that maybe this was a cruel joke. Then, Cynthia said, ¡°Come out for a moment.¡±

    Slowly, a small, sharp, blue, angular beak flowed out of his screen, very reminiscent of what Rotom had done previously. Following the blue, came pink, as the entire head of a Porygon came out and looked around. ¡°Porygon?¡±

    Its voice sounded like a Speak & Spell, very robotic and unique. Ethan instantly felt bad. ¡°Thanks for the protection. Do you, uh, eat berries?¡±

    ¡°Ethan, you can¡¯t feed berries to every pokemon you meet,¡± Cynthia chastised with a scoff. ¡°Porygon can¡¯t eat. They¡¯re living data.¡±

    ¡°Oh.¡± Ethan, with a second to think, could see how not having a proper mouth would make eating an issue. ¡°Well, hello. You can come out whenever you want and hang out, I guess¡­¡± Ethan slammed the table and jerked up in his seat, causing his chair to skid across the floor. ¡°Oh! Can you go into my old phone and bring over all my data to put it on this laptop?!¡±

    The Porygon looked to Cynthia and only after seeing her nod of confirmation, nodded in return. Porygon flew out of his computer and into his old Earth phone sitting a few feet away. Its body shrunk down to a much smaller size in the blink of an eye, the move Minimize if Ethan had to guess, then sunk into his phone with ease. A second later, it zoomed back out and back into the laptop.

    With a flash of a download bar, which completed in less than a second, Ethan had a new music app on his desktop, a photo album, and a folder filled with other bits and bobs of miscellaneous information.

    ¡°Thank you Porygon! You have no clue how much this meant.¡± Ethan clicked on the photo icon, and saw all of his old pictures appear. Cringe selfies, random pictures of food, screenshots of memes, photos of friends and family¡­ He had them all.

    Ethan clicked on the photo he took at the bottom of the Statue of Liberty, and Cynthia peered over his shoulder to look as well. Her blonde hair trailing down his shoulder. The picture was depicting the skyline of New York City. ¡°Oh? That is a very unique looking city.¡±

    Ethan ignored her, and looked through the rest of his photos.

    After thirty minutes, Cynthia stood and sighed. ¡°It¡¯s time for me to go. Do you have your answer?¡±

    Ethan frowned, remembering the prior conversation. ¡°As long as you come here with them when they arrive to make sure no trouble happens, you get me a firearm for protection, and take care of building what is needed for them to stay¡­ Sure.¡±

    Cynthia began to smile, but Ethan spoke with haste. ¡°BUT!¡± Ethan looked her dead in the eyes. ¡°But, If I say it¡¯s time for them to leave, they¡¯re gone. No ifs, ands, or buts¡ªGONE! Deal?¡±

    Cynthia extended a hand, grasping his firmly. ¡°Deal.¡±

 INTERLUDE - Jenny

    As she strolled down the hallway of the Eterna City Police Headquarters, Detective Jenny reviewed her notes. Her incoming interrogation was looking to be the biggest of her career, and it could make or break the finishing touches of rooting the evil of Team Galactic out of their region.

    Jenny approached INT-5, or Interrogation Room 5, rapped her knuckles across the solid, hearty wooden door, and then slid inside with practiced confidence. Inside the room, a tall, slender, purple-haired woman¡ªapproximately thirty years of age¡ªwas sitting down at the singular table in the room, cuffed with her hands behind her back. She wore a typical orange jumpsuit of those held down in the jailhouse, but this was no mere criminal. They didn¡¯t even know who this was, and that was concerning, given that she owned a legendary pokemon.

    She grabbed the one other free chair in the room, casually pulling it aside to sit in between the suspect and the only door leading in and out of the room. A typical tactic that she¡¯s used time and time again to give suspects a sense of being caged, closed in, or otherwise defeated.

    Detective Jenny set her small notepad on the desk they both now sat at, and calmly introduced herself. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Detective Jennifer Jenny of the Eterna City Police Department. I¡¯m just here to ask you some questions today regarding an event that took place on October 7th. Before we begin, I am going to read you your rights.¡±

    After having done hundreds of interrogations in her career, she didn¡¯t even need to use the small laminated card held within her suit''s breast pocket. Frankly, she only carried it around as a formality. ¡°You have the right to remain silent, and the right to consult with an attorney before and during questioning. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed to you. At any point during questioning, you have the right to stop answering questions at any time. Do you understand your rights?¡±

    The suspect, who was rumored to be named Sird, nodded once, but that wasn¡¯t good enough.

    ¡°I¡¯ll need your verbal confirmation for the record.¡± Jenny additionally said, as she clicked the top of her pen and pressed the tip to the pages of her notebook.

    ¡°Yes.¡± Sird said, just before blowing purple strands of unkempt hair out of her face.

    ¡°Great. So, I assume you know why you¡¯ve been brought in today?¡± Jenny asked while casually throwing a leg up to rest her left foot on her right knee, earning a simple shake of the head from Sird. Sird stared into the plain white wall ahead of her, and not at Jenny, which was telling. ¡°We have some evidence which is pretty damning, but I¡¯m here just to get your side of the story. People are talking, and it¡¯s not looking good. Tell me about what happened on the 7th. Why were you in the hidden Galactic base?¡±

    Sird scoffed, then continued to remain silent. Jenny paused, then placed her pen down onto the table. The simple sound of the action echoing in the silent room. ¡°Look, I¡¯m not here to point fingers, appoint blame, or anything of the sort. I¡¯m just here to get all the pieces of the puzzle. Find out who¡¯s who, that sort of thing. Jupiter, Mars, and Saturn have had very interesting things to say about you, but that¡¯s just their side of things. They¡¯re pretty tight knit, so perhaps they¡¯re throwing you under the bus? Was the bomb one of theirs? The poisons? The drugs? The rampant and detestable abuse of pokemon? Or was it all you like they¡¯re saying and the evidence is saying?¡±

    ¡°I had nothing to do with any of those.¡± Sird said simply, but Jenny latched on.

    ¡°Then what part did you have something to do with? You were there, we know that for a fact. You¡¯re also supposedly ranked above Jupiter, Mars, and Saturn from all the evidence and testimonies we¡¯ve collected. It would make sense that maybe they were just following your orders as you said¡­¡±

    Sird remained silent again, which was her right, but Jenny needed a confession to lock her down for good. ¡°Look¡­¡± Jenny leaned forward, putting elbows on the table as she folded her hands. ¡°We¡¯ve already got you for more than enough to put you away for life.¡± She lied, ¡°I¡¯m only here to sort through the facts and to see who did what. Do you really wanna go down as an abuser?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t abuse my pokemon.¡± Sird bit out, the first bit of emotion leaking through her stoney facade.

    Jenny calmly swatted the air. ¡°I never said you did, but that¡¯s not what we¡¯re seeing. I need your side of the story. Those cages we found? Those pokemon locked away for experiments? Some of those pokemon didn¡¯t make it. Whatever you pumped them with was too much for some of them to handle.¡±

    Sird finally turned her grey-eyed gaze toward Jenny, and she would have flinched from the cold-blooded and murderous eyes locked onto her if not for her training. Her cold tone sent a slight shiver down her spine. ¡°I didn¡¯t give any pokemon drugs. That wasn¡¯t me.¡±

    Jenny rallied back. ¡°Then what did you do? Help me understand. How about we start at the beginning. Start fresh? What were you doing at the hidden base?¡±

    Sird replied, but it wasn¡¯t with an answer. She looked away and stared into the blank wall once again. ¡°You have no clue what you¡¯re messing with.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s exactly right. That¡¯s why I am here. I¡¯m just trying to understand.¡± Jenny flipped open her notebook, flipping the pages to a drawing of a pokemon. She slid it across the table and watched as Sird¡¯s eyes trailed down to look at the proffered picture. ¡°This is one of your pokemon correct?¡±

    Sird¡¯s lips turned upwards in a knowing smirk. Her second hint of emotion so far. ¡°Having some troubles with him I suppose?¡±

    They were in fact having an extremely rough time controlling and detaining what was learned to be a Darkrai. From what investigators have been able to gather, there was only a singular known trainer of a Darkrai currently in Sinnoh, and Sird wasn¡¯t them. Nobody could casually catch a legendary¡ªand those that did have them, like Brandon from the Battle Frontier¡ªwere carefully watched. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

    The only reason Sird has been kept in custody so far was for her failure to register her pokemon. If Jenny wasn¡¯t able to extract some other crime today, she¡¯d be released. It wasn¡¯t a crime to be around criminals, and they had absolutely nothing on her to implicate her in the atrocious acts of Team Galactic other than her location.

    Realizing that this line of questioning was a good side track to gather information about her suspect, Jenny continued her line of questioning. She needed more information. ¡°It¡¯s an unruly pokemon¡ªStrong and dangerous. Did the injury from your leg come from handling Darkrai?¡±

    A flash of fury and anger crossed Sird¡¯s face at the mention of her injury. She shifted her body, clenched her fists, and then answered. ¡°No. A pokemon wasn¡¯t responsible for that.¡±

    ¡°Oh? When did that happen? Was it an accident?¡± Jenny asked.

    ¡°A few years ago.¡±

    ¡°Was it an accident?¡± Jenny asked again, earning her more silence.

    Seeing as she¡¯d been stonewalled, Jenny moved onto other topics. ¡°Recently, there¡¯s been some vandalization around the city. Cult like iconography of Galactic has been found painted around the city. Do you happen to know anyone who might be responsible? I know this wasn¡¯t you, as you¡¯ve been here, but perhaps you might know someone?¡± Jenny grabbed her phone, then slid it across the table.

    The picture was depicting the side of a local business. The side wall, in the nearby alleyway, was painted in vibrant orange paint in an artstyle similar to graffiti. It was a painting of the Team Galactic insignia, found by the business owners that morning when they had come to work.

    Sird leaned over the table and glanced at the phone. Surprisingly, she raised an eyebrow in what Jenny could read as genuine surprise. ¡°No. Whoever or whatever pokemon it was is a great artist though.¡±

    Jenny hastily wrote down the mention of pokemon. It could maybe be a clue. ¡°Tell me, have you ever been in Kanto, Johto, or Hoenn before?¡±

    Sird once again refused to answer, so Jenny decided to put her mind at ease. ¡°You aren¡¯t a native of Sinnoh. We¡¯re just trying to figure out where you¡¯re from.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d like my lawyer.¡± Sird¡¯s request for a lawyer was the final straw. Legally, Jenny couldn¡¯t ask her anymore questions, and by the time she¡¯d be allowed to continue her interrogation with a lawyer present, Sird¡¯s jail time would already be up and over with. She¡¯d be free, unless they could find something that they could use to keep her under arrest.

    Jenny nodded, picked up her things, then stood from her chair. ¡°I understand. Someone will be right here to come take you back to your cell.¡±

    Jenny left INT-5, then walked down the hallway into the monitoring room. When she opened the door, seven sets of eyes swiveled towards her with understanding nods and frowns. She carelessly threw her things onto a nearby table, then collapsed into the comfortable cushioned couch set-up in front of the monitors linked in with the cameras stationed into the interrogation room. She rubbed her eyes, took off her cap, and slumped her shoulders. Her aunt, the Chief of Police, came over to give her a gentle pat. ¡°You did all you could. We didn¡¯t have much hope.¡±

    Jenny sighed, then gestured towards the perfectly still and stone faced Sird who was on the monitors. ¡°We don¡¯t even know who she is. We got nothing on her, and the vandalism around the city is getting worse. She honestly didn¡¯t seem to know who was doing them either¡­ It could be another group trying to continue off where Team Galactic failed.¡±

    Jannise, her aunt, gave her another gentle, comforting rub. ¡°We didn¡¯t get what we wanted, but he got something. She mentioned pokemon. I¡¯ll get Sherry to do a sweep of the registry for artist pokemon and see if we can find out who¡¯s responsible.¡±

    Jenny waved her off. ¡°I¡¯ll do it. Now that Sird¡ªif that''s who she really is¡ªis getting let go, I have nothing else to do. She was the last piece of the puzzle, and the others are going away for a long, long time¡­¡± Jenny trailed off, then finally asked the question that¡¯s been nagging at her for the past few months. ¡°Now that this is all over, can you tell me who our informant is?¡±

    Her aunt sighed loudly, having already been asked this question nearly a hundred times so far. Jenny never got an answer, always being told that ¡®it was reliable¡¯ and to stop questioning it. It had been suspicious, doubious, and very much out of protocol. ¡°No. Just drop it Jen. It¡¯s over.¡±

    Frustrated, defeated, and tired, Jennifer got up from her seat, grabbed her things, and prepared to exit the room. She paused at the doorway, turning her head to look at her aunt one final time. ¡°I deserved to know.¡±

    Her aunt looked to the floor in defeat. ¡°Yes, you did. It¡¯s out of my hands.¡±

    Jenny left, and as she walked down the white plastered hallway, she passed by Sird and two officers who were escorting her back to her cell. Sird needed the help, as her leg had a grisly wound that arc¡¯d up from her foot, all the way up to her thigh. She wasn¡¯t allowed the use of a cane, as it could be used as a weapon, but she¡¯d definitely need one when she got out.

    A short time later, Jenny was sitting in her office. Paperwork was strewn about the top of her table, filled out with hastily written notes that would no longer be needed for the case. Not wanting to file them right away, she grabbed her laptop and began looking for people or pokemon that could fit the description of their vandalist.

    Since it was graffiti, Grafaifai were at the top of her list. Sadly, there hadn¡¯t been a Grafaifai known to be in the city or registered to anybody in Eterna or the surrounding areas. The closest one was in Jublife and was owned by a teen just preparing for her journey.

    The next obvious choice was Smeargle. While it wasn¡¯t a common pokemon, it should be more common than Grafaifai here in Sinnoh. Luckily, by the registry, there were four Smeargles owned in or around Eterna City. The first was nicknamed Smudge, owned by Kakari Shino, an elderly lady. It was an older Smeargle, well on in its years, with a blue tail.

    Second, was a Smeargle owned by Tina Costow. Everything looked on the up and up, and the Smeargle was actually working in a nail salon down in Floaroma town. It had a bright green tail, which it deftly used to paint the nails of its customers.

    The third was owned by a wandering trainer, who was traveling through Eterna City on their journey. The trainer in question, Jerome Butler, had an outstanding civil record, but his battling record could use some work. He¡¯d only arrived three days ago, so that quickly marked him off as a suspect.

    Next, and most recently, was a Smeargle registered to one Max Simply. Max had been in Eterna City for nearly two months, after failing to conquer Gardenia¡¯s 6-badge team. It was written that the Smeargle in question was still registered to him as the last previously known trainer, but was pseudo-released into the care of one Ethan Reed. The Smeargle in question also had an orange-tipped tail¡­

    Smelling the hint of a trail, Jenny brought up all known information on Mr. Reed, only to find that she¡­ didn¡¯t have authorisation?

    ¡°What the fuck? I¡¯m a detective!¡± Jenny exclaimed, then threw out a pokeball. Out from the pokeball, the small cute form of one of her partners materialized, ready for orders. ¡°Larry, find aunt Sherry. Tell her to come here.¡±

    As Larry, Jennifer¡¯s Espurr, waddled out of the room with glowing eyes. Somewhere, across the region, a small alarm went off on an International Policeman''s desk.

    The files of Ethan Reed had tried to be accessed.

 Chapter 66

    After Cynthia and Elm left Berry Falls, the days were busy and filled with work. The day after Cynthia left, the very same construction crew Looker contracted to build his home, fences, and pond, arrived to begin construction on three new buildings. If Ethan had his say, he was also going to ask for a bit more, on the League¡¯s budget of course.

    Alba, the dark-skinned, lean, leader of the construction crew met with him to talk about the locations and looks of the buildings. Her crew¡¯s pokemon, Conkeldurr and Timburr mostly, were already making concrete and chopping some of the surrounding forest for materials. Also, Alba¡¯s construction crew was nowhere near as small as it had been previously. Instead of the five helping hands she had last time, she now had dozens.

    The first building would be a pseudo Pokemon Center for the incoming Nurse Joy. Overseeing the construction, was a bright pink-haired man in a business suit¡ªA representative from the Joy Clan, Bill Joy. The man was all business, not dithering in his conversation and quite blunt, to the point, and unenjoyable to speak too. Ethan only shared a few words with the man, and that was enough to tell that they would never be friends.

    The Pokemon Center wouldn¡¯t have many of the resources a real Pokemon Center would, but it would have a room for the eventually arriving Nurse Joy and a spare for any of their guests. Of course, it would also have the functions to heal pokemon, as well as the capability to act as a staging ground for any Pokemon Rangers doing their job. If they found someone that needed help, his ranch would now be closer and well-equipped to deal with any unforeseen emergency. Ethan decided it would be best if it was placed near the entrance to the ranch, across the cobblestone path from the Training Field and Camp Grounds.

    Along with the Pokemon Center, a small cottage for Jessie, James, and Meowth would be built. It was simple and a little small¡ªEven smaller than his own home, but it would be functional. It didn¡¯t have a dining room or a guest room, which meant that Jessie and James would need to bunk together, but Ethan was sure that was nothing new. After all, they traveled for years and years in the wild with one another. It made up for its smaller size by having a garden, front yard, backyard, and a small cobblestone fence.

    Their small cottage would be situated near the Pokemon Center. Just a little down the cobblestone path leading toward his house.

    The third building, which would be one of Ethan¡¯s, would be a barn with a loft. He¡¯d argued for it, because in his mind, he was already going above and beyond for housing the Team Rocket trio. Getting the means to protect himself and his pokemon wasn¡¯t payment, it was a necessity.

    Plus, he was poor, and a free building was a free building.

    The barn was very simple. It wouldn¡¯t have the stereotypical large barn doors. Instead, it would have two sliding double doors which hang from a roller up high. Unlike a normal barn, it would be more akin to a large horse stable. In each of the divided rooms, he was planning on building miniature environments for hatching eggs and having resting places for the many different types of pokemon he was sure to come across during his tutoring and breeding services. The rooms wouldn¡¯t be massive, but they would comfortably house one or two medium-sized pokemon in their preferred habitats.

    What was a bummer was that he¡¯d have to build the environments of the rooms himself. The construction crew built buildings, not pokemon breeder enclosures. Nonetheless, it was a massive win for him, and he¡¯d make use of it.

    Besides the different environmental rooms, there would be a large open space near the back where he could store items and set-up workstations. In the future, he was planning to supplement his income with pokemon items: wool, honey, berry juice, etc. He¡¯d use this spot to bottle, shear, milk¡­ whatever he needed.

    The loft up above would be used for pretty much anything. He didn¡¯t have any plans for it at the moment, but it was better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

    Surprisingly, his barn was the cheapest of the bunch, even though it was the largest. Turns out, when you don¡¯t need all the facilities a normal home required, building costs were drastically lowered. Gathering wood from the surrounding forest cut down on costs even more, and the process even expanded the meadows a bit.

    The large barn would be built along the edge of the meadow, closer to his house and still out of the way. The Oddish weren¡¯t very happy with that decision, as the loud noises of construction could be heard from his home, but they understood that this was important.

    He¡¯d have to reward them later.

    Two days after construction began, Ethan finally got a small break from overseeing construction and helping out around the ranch. People came to ask for his input, permission¡­ and to make complaints.

    As he sat on the edge of this patio, releasing a sigh of exhaustion, the sound of footsteps coming up the patio stairs caused him to let out an audible groan. Ethan rubbed his face in frustration as a voice spoke up from behind him. ¡°Mr. Reed¡­¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡± Ethan responded, despondent.

    ¡°She¡¯s doing it again¡­¡±

    Turning around, Ethan looked tiredly at one of Alba¡¯s crew members, then nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll deal with it.¡±

    Ethan dropped down off his patio from his sitting position, landing on his feet. As he walked past the Oddish who waved their small leaves his way, he heard the all too familiar sound of glee.

    ¡°Tinka-tinka-tinka-tinka-tinka-tiiiiink¡­.¡±

    Awkwardly running to him from further up the path, arms full, was Tinkatink. A giant mischievous grin spread across her face as she ran away from the Pokemon Center construction site with her ill-gotten gains. Her arms were wrapped around several different metallic items; Hammers, Saws, Nails, Screws, what appeared to be a doorknob¡­

    Ethan stepped in front of Shuckle¡¯s den, causing Tinkatink to look up at who was blocking her path¡ªto the person who dared block her way¡­

    ¡°Tiiinnnkk¡­.¡± She instantly groaned and looked at the ground, dejected.

    Ethan held out a hand, gesturing the world renowned ¡®gimme¡¯, causing Tinkatink to begrudgingly hand over her raid spoils. He handed off the stolen goods to the crew member following behind him, then knelt to get on Tinkatink¡¯s level. ¡°You need to stop that. Those don¡¯t belong to you.¡±Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

    He sighed, then looked to the sky, as if Arceus would come down to free him from this situation. ¡°I will buy you metal later.¡±

    With an overly dramatic quivering lip and with tears pooling in the corner of her eyes, Tinkatink sniffled. She slowly, sadly, and with hunched shoulders, walked past him to enter Shuckle¡¯s Den¡­

    When Tinkatink was about to enter, her formerly sad visage melted away into smug assurance, putting Ethan on high-shenanigan-alert. She baby-sprinted the last few feet as she screamed her victory cry, holding high a singular pack of nails she had somehow hidden away as she entered the safety of the hole in the ground¡ªThe one spot where he couldn¡¯t follow.

    Both Ethan and the now fidgeting crew member watched as she made her escape.

    The man spoke first, breaking their dumbfounded silence. ¡°We have spares¡­¡±

    Ethan just nodded along, staring into the hole with narrowed eyes.

    Tinkatink was a very active pokemon, very much unlike how Emolga was when she was first hatched. She was so full of energy and always on a mission, and since the construction crew arrived, she¡¯d been trying to steal all their metal all day, every day.

    As Ethan rose to his feet and turned around to go back to rest, another crew member came up to him. This time it was one of the women who was working on the barn. ¡°Mr. Reed¡­ I think something happened to your Skiddo¡­¡± She dry-washed her hands in a nervous fidget, causing Ethan to pray, once again, for the strength to carry on.

    ¡°Let me guess, she¡¯s lying flat on her back, legs up in the air? Not moving?¡± He asked, earning rapid worried nods. He looked her dead in the eyes, voice monotone. ¡°She¡¯s sleeping. I have no clue why she started doing that, but she¡¯s sleeping.¡±

    The woman looked unsure. ¡°But she¡¯s right next to all the construction¡ª¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s a deep sleeper¡­¡± Ethan continued. ¡°You¡¯re the fourth person to be worried. I¡¯ve checked, she¡¯s fine.¡± He flashed her a smile, and she slowly and unsurely turned, going off back down the path to continue her work.

    ¡° ? Chaa-tooot! ?¡±

    Chatot sang out from high in the sky, then landed on his right shoulder. She looked him up and down, seeing his stress and exhaustion. ¡°Ethan, okay?¡±

    He reached up and ran his hand down her side. ¡°I¡¯m alright. Just have my hands full.¡± He turned to look at his colorful bird, a smile creeping onto his face. ¡°Pachirisu still demanding rematches?¡±

    Chatot¡¯s smug eyes let him know the answer to that. Ever since he released them from their pokeballs after the battle, Pachirisu had been adamant about a rematch. At first, he was afraid that he¡¯d need to cheer up his little squirrel from the loss, but it seemed losing only fueled his motivation. Chatot had declined every single attempt at a rematch, holding her position with a smug air of superiority, and it has been quite funny to watch their interactions these past few days.

    Looking at his phone as he trudged back to his patio, Ethan checked on the arrival of Tobias. Tobias was due to show up right as construction was predicted to be completed. The man with two legendaries, and perhaps even more, would be staying as Ethan taught his pokemon, and he was curious about the man''s backstory.

    In the anime, Tobias just¡­ showed up one day, stomped Ash into the ground, then moved on never to be seen again. He wasn¡¯t sure about how challenging the champion of elite four worked here, but in the anime, Cynthia was still champion even after Tobias won the conference. Either he didn¡¯t choose to challenge, or he lost.

    And if he lost, that meant that Cynthia, or one of the elite four, beat him.

    That was a scary thought.

    As Ethan sat down on his patio once again, legs dangling over the edge and petting Chatot who dropped down from his shoulder into his lap, he looked around for anyone going to interrupt his little break. Seeing that the coast was clear, he closed his eyes and let loose a deep breath¡­

    ¡°Hello, Kind One.¡±

    ¡°Space Lama take me¡­¡± He muttered, turning his head to see a familiar Gardevoir gently floating towards him from out of the forest.

    The humanoid fairy looked much happier than she did in the past, nearly glowing with grace and a small smile at her lips. ¡°The distorted have calmed, and the battle is won. I have come to collect my daughter.¡±

    *Blip* ¡°Ra-oof!¡±

    Said daughter, Ralts, appeared in a blip of teleport right in front of her mother, falling to the ground in a very ungraceful flop. The little psychic dusted off her knees, then ran forward to jump up and hang onto Gardevoir¡¯s hovering feet.

    Ethan smiled at the sight. He spoke casually as the two talked to one other in their pokemon speak. ¡°She¡¯s been well behaved. If you ever need me to watch her again, don¡¯t hesitate to ask.¡±

    Ralts looked to be carrying the conversation, with Gardevoir just nodded and giving short responses with a serene smile. Once they finished their conversation, Gardevoir floated towards Ethan and held out what was in her hand. Ethan took the proffered object, holding it up into the light. It looked like a large chunk of vibrantly green emerald, the size of two fists. It was a beautiful stone, and it took Ethan a solid fifteen seconds of observing it to realize what it actually was.

    In the center of the stone was the very faint, thin, symbol of a leaf. He looked down from his inspection, finding himself looking at a pleased Gardevoir.

    ¡°A Leaf Stone. One of high energy and clarity. We have little to no use for it, but you do.¡± She waved towards the horde of Oddish¡ªHis companions for nearly an entire year. ¡°When the time comes, use it on those that wish to become a Vileplume.¡±

    Ethan looked back to the vibrant, magical stone. ¡°I¡ªThank you very much.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for watching over my kin, and for the berries.¡± Gardevoir looked around at the construction happening in the meadow, a questioning look in her gaze.

    ¡°Building a barn to help pokemon adjust to the ranch. I¡¯ll try to have different environments inside so that they feel comfortable. Up towards the entrance¡­¡± Ethan pointed over in the direction of the Pokemon Center. ¡°... we¡¯re building a small Pokemon Center. If you ever need help, come by and I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re cared for.¡±

    ¡°A house of healing? The pink Joys?¡± She asked in his mind.

    ¡°Yes, exactly. A place to heal pokemon.¡± Ethan confirmed with a nod and a smile. His mood vastly improved with his payment for watching over Ralts.

    Gardevoir held up a hand to her chin and appeared to be deep in thought. ¡°We thank you for the offer. We shall come when times of need arise.¡±

    Gardevoir looked down to Ralts, who was still hanging onto her feet, some a few words, then nodded. ¡°Goodbye. Till we meet again, Kind One.¡±

    And with another blip of a purple teleport, Gardevoir and Ralts were gone.

    ¡°? Wow? ?¡±

    Ethan gave Chatot a final stroke, then held up the Leaf Stone. ¡°She¡¯s back home now. I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll come visit again. Now, let¡¯s go store this so that nobody steals it.¡±

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot! ?¡± Chatot agreed, launching from his lap to nab the stone from his hands, right into her talons. Before Ethan could shout out in confusion, he watched as she placed it into her nest on the top of his house. Once secured in place, she did two spins, then sat down on it like it was an egg.

    ¡°Well, then¡­ That¡¯s one way to keep it safe.¡±

 Chapter 67

    Ethan checked his phone for the twentieth time this morning, finding that, yes, the worst was coming to fruition.

    The construction crew had left last night, after having finished a tad early from Bill Joy¡¯s helpful oversight of the construction of the Pokemon Center. While the man wasn¡¯t enjoyable to be around, he was efficient. Ethan would at least give him that.

    Finishing early was good, expansion and progress was swell¡­

    Having Brock and his ¡®friends¡¯, Tobias, the new Joy, Cynthia, and the Team Rocket Trio arriving on the same day? Around the same time? That was very much not a good thing.

    ¡°Emol?¡±

    Emolga¡¯s innocent, questioning cry caused him to put his phone away while flashing her a distracting smile. It was out of his hands now, and no matter how many times he checked his phone, the messages weren¡¯t going to suddenly change.

    ¡°I¡¯m watching! I¡¯m watching!¡± Ethan flippantly waved. ¡°Do a flip again!¡± Ethan encouraged, focus fully on Emolga as he clapped, earning a squeal of happiness from the fully levitating pokemon.

    Emolga limbs were splayed outwards, her winged-membrane flapping in the non-existant wind as she hovered around seven feet in the air. With a tiny cry of ¡®Emo!¡¯ and a tongue sticking out to help with concentration, Emolga jolted forward, rose, then circled back vertically, doing a backflip. ¡°Emolga! Emol! Emol!¡±

    Ethan smiled but ran forwards, sensing the mistakes before it happened. Emolga clapped her hands together in glee at her success, folding her winged-membranes inwards and causing her  to fall¡ªRight into his arms. She grinned like a loon, so extraordinarily happy to be able to fly, and Ethan couldn¡¯t help but feel a little bit of pride as she did a wiggle-dance in his embrace. It was like watching your kid walk for the first time¡­ or, at least he thought it was.

    ¡°You wanna keep flying, or do you want to go back in your pokeball?¡± Ethan asked. Emolga had been flying for a solid fifteen minutes, doing flips, barrel rolls, and testing her speed. She still had a long way to go, but this was a giant leap in improvement. Usually, she tuckered out after a few minutes. This was the longest he¡¯d ever seen her go.

    She was probably running off an adrenaline high.

    Emolga shook her head rapidly, then hastily crawled up his chest and onto the top of his head.

    ¡°Hey! Be careful!¡± Ethan complained lightly, unable to hide his happiness in his tone.

    Emolga shifted her balance on his head, even going so far as to give his forehead a playful slap to stay still, then shouted. ¡°Emoooooool-GA!¡±  Before launching off, back into the air.

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot! ?¡±

    Chatot swooped down from up high, suddenly joining Emolga in her flight. The duo of black, white,and yellow, together with blue, yellow, black, and green, soared above the training fields alongside one another as they spoke in poke-speak. Emolga was doing ninety percent of the talking, her hyper, child-like attitude on full force, while Chatot chimed in with a beautiful bird-song in reply.

    Ethan watched them fly about in the air as they had the time of their lives, and for a moment, he forgot about the coming events of the day.

    Suddenly, Emolga did another flip, curled into herself, then screamed out a way too excited cry of joy. ¡°Moooool-GA!¡±

    With little to no warning, tiny sparks of electricity jolted outwards from her body in arcs of brilliant yellow light. Chatot swooped down, avoiding the sudden burst of super effective electricity, and joined Ethan in staring at the sight. The burst of electricity only lasted a few seconds, and Emolga was breathing deeply afterwards.

    Ever so slowly, Emolga floated down towards him like a leaf in a breeze. One securely tucked into his chest, she yawned, stretched, mumbled, then promptly fell asleep.

    Ethan looked to Chatot, who looked towards him, as if having the same thought. ¡°I guess it¡¯s nap time.¡±

    After recalling Emolga back into her pokeball for a rest, Ethan and Chatot spent a few minutes practicing their singing, moves, and coordination. It was a small thing for them both; training, but progress was progress, no matter how small. Ethan didn¡¯t want to let his pokemon down, and he definitely didn¡¯t want them to get hurt. The solution was to train and step out of his comfort zone.

    When Ethan sent Smeargle on his mission to find which of his pokemon had an interest in battling, he wasn¡¯t very surprised by the results. Chatot and Pachirisu were in, that was a given. Smeargle himself wouldn¡¯t mind battling again either, with him actually battling on a team during a journey with his former trainer. Smeargle was pretty experienced, all things considered. Both Teddiursa were also interested, but sadly, mama-bear¡¯s glare of disapproval shut down their enthusiasm.

    Ursaring didn¡¯t want to battle anymore. From what he could gather, she saw herself as a defender and protector¡ªa mother. Her battling days were over, in the conventional sense. If she was involved in a fight, there would be no ¡®battle is over when a pokemon faints¡¯. The battle would be over when they were unable to battle for the rest of their lives.

    And weirdly, Ethan was fine with that. If someone came here to harm them, she had his permission to do whatever it took to keep them safe. Just as he would do the same.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    The plodding of thick feet running over the dirt caused Ethan to turn around, finding Munchlax sprinting his way from the direction of the campgrounds. The blue, tan, and rotund berry glutton was pointing towards the entrance to his ranch as he made his way over.

    Ethan sighed, then grabbed some Sitrus berries from his vest and paid the pokemon for his hard work, earning him a slight smile from the always hungry pokemon. He¡¯d been tasked with watching for anyone coming to his ranch today, and it seems his first visitor, or visitors, had arrived.

    After making his way over with Munchlax and Chatot in tow, Ethan arrived at the entrance to Berry Falls to find three people inspecting their surroundings with a hint of wonder. The first, and eldest of the bunch was a dark skinned, fit male with very narrow eyes. He wore a dark orange vest over a dark green collared shirt, and had tan cargo pants and a backpack¡ªBrock was here.

    Next to Brock stood a preppy, pretty, and adventurous looking young woman who must have been Dawn. Unlike her anime appearance, she dressed much more for the outdoors and for rigorous traveling through the wilds¡­ Although she still had that white beanie on. In her arms, she held a wiggling Piplup, who flapped its flippers wanting to be let down.

    Then, last and most definitely not least, was Ash Ketchum. It was him, Ethan had no doubt about that, as somehow the man still had those weird black lightning bolt marks on his cheeks. Unlike his ten-year old appearance in all the media from Earth, this Ash was a young man. If he remembered correctly, Ash should be eighteen. He had his familiar red cap, but his clothes were different. He wore much darker clothing, a black jacket with a yellow stripe crossing the front, and dark black bluejeans. It was a good look on him, and it made the bright yellow Pikachu on his shoulder pop out clearly in contrast.

    They all noticed him at the same time that he¡¯d noticed them, so he waved in greeting as he closed the distance. ¡°Welcome to Berry Falls! I¡¯m Ethan!¡± Ethan greeted with a warm smile, although his nerves were going haywire.

    Brock¡¯s eyes were strangely emotive, as Ethan could see the delight in the Gym Leader¡¯s eyes as he held out a hand to shake. ¡°I¡¯m Brock. Thanks for sparing the time to have us visit. I¡¯ve always been interested in pokemon breeding, and once I saw your website listed on the official Sinnoh registry, I couldn¡¯t help but stop by.¡±

    ¡°You have a wonderful home.¡± Dawn said, inserting herself into the conversation as she finally let the little Piplup run free. ¡°I¡¯m Dawn.¡±

    Munchlax waddled over to the little penguin, and began introductions, but Chatot peered around the new ground of humans from atop her rightful place.

    Ash stepped forward, and Ethan almost wanted to take a step back. The walking natural disaster was too unpredictable. ¡°I¡¯m Ash, and this is my best friend, Pikachu!¡±

    ¡°Pikachu! ?¡± Pikachu, lightning god cultivator from the upteenth realm, very cheerfully cried out.

    Ethan felt his stomach drop at the most stereotypical ¡®this is going to be an episode¡¯ introduction, but carried on. ¡°I actually know a fair bit about you, Mr. Ketchum. It¡¯s not everyday someone gets sponsored by the famous Professor Oak.¡±

    Ethan could see the young man preen with pride, recognition could do that to people. ¡°Well, it¡¯s nice to meet you all. Welcome to my ranch. Before I show you around, I have some ground rules. No catching pokemon on my ranch. If you happen to make a connection and one of the pokemon wants to go with you, that¡¯s fine, but no battle and catch. I have many wild pokemon that call this place home, and I won¡¯t have them be taken by force. Second, no battling outside of the training field. Third, I am going to be very busy today, as I have many people coming over. If you have any questions or concerns and you can¡¯t find me, please find one of the pokemon around and they will come get me.¡±

    Looking around, Ethan got a round of nods of confirmation. He carried on as he began walking down the cobblestone path. ¡°Perfect. Now, I am a breeder, but I am afraid to say that my experience is lacking. My breeding methods are¡­ different. I am a Move Tutor, Daycare, and Breeding service all in one. If someone gets their pokemon tutored or daycared, and their pokemon find themselves liking another during their stay and make an egg? Well, that¡¯s my breeding plan.¡±

    Ethan pointed to the just finished mini Pokemon Center. ¡°One of my visitors today is going to be a brand new Nurse Joy. This is her small Pokemon Center.¡±

    After a quick glance to see if he had their interest, Ethan caught Munchlax standing next to the group sagely nodding. In his hands, tugged up against his chest, was the pitiful form of Piplup who was resigned to be carried. Dawn noticed, and was trying to stifle a laugh at her pokemons expense.

    ¡°A Nurse Joy? Well, this is as prime as a location for a Pokemon Center if I¡¯ve ever seen one.¡± Brock asked, eyes betraying his motives.

    ¡°You got that right¡­ It¡¯s been a while since Team Ro¡ª *Ahem* they have shown up. I have a feeling something will happen soon.¡± Ash replied.

    Ethan felt like this was as good a moment as he was going to get. ¡°Team Rocket? Jessie and James?¡± He asked, nonchalant.

    All three of his visitors'' heads swiveled towards him in shock. Ethan hastily carried on, lest they get the wrong idea. ¡°They are actually coming over today. It¡¯s one of the reasons I know about you, Ash. They¡¯ve finally gotten caught.¡±

    Dawn was now completely ignoring her Piplup, fully focusing on the conversation at hand. ¡°They got caught?!¡±

    Ethan sighed and gestured toward the next building along the road. ¡°That they did. They¡¯re going to stay at my ranch. It¡¯s out of the way, so they can¡¯t cause trouble. I need the help, and government officials check in every once in a while about certifications¡ªbreeding and what not. So, they¡¯ll be watched and checked on.¡±

    Ethan lied, but it was that or explain his scenario, which wasn¡¯t going to be believed. ¡°Cynthia, the Champion of Sinnoh, is actually a good friend of mine. She¡¯ll be dropping them off anytime now. So, don¡¯t start trouble unless they start it first. Got it?¡±

    Ash looked like he was torn between being relieved and frustrated. ¡°So¡­ they won¡¯t come after anyone¡¯s pokemon ever again?¡±

    A simple nod was Ethan''s reply.

    ¡°It only took them four years! Four years of them chasing me!¡± He ground out, while Pikachu patted him on the head for comfort. ¡°Pika-PIKA!¡±

    ¡°Hello!¡±

    Ethan still couldn¡¯t get used to hearing his own voice coming from someone else. Chatot, who was on his right shoulder, tilted her head as she joined the conversation, drawing the eyes of everyone near and swiftly changing the subject. God bless his colorful bird.

    ¡°Your pokemon talks!¡± Ash exclaimed, as Pikachu tilted his head in return. Ash dug about in his pocket, pulling out the ever bricky and familiar form of a classic PokeDex. After a quick scan, an AI voice spoke out for everyone to hear.

    Chatot - The Melody Pokemon: This normal and flying type pokemon mimics the cries of other pokemon to trick them into thinking it¡¯s one of them. This way they won¡¯t attack it.

    ¡°A Chatot! That¡¯s a new one!¡± Ash seemed extraordinarily happy at the news. Brock and Dawn also flashed the man a smile.

    Ethan¡­ Well, Ethan was disappointed about the severe lack of information. His PocketDex was better than that!

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot! ?¡± Chatot cried out her typical song in cheer, glad for the attention.

    Ethan coughed. ¡°Let¡¯s carry on¡­¡±

 Chapter 68

    After showing the group of protagonists the berry field, his own home, the meadows and its new barn, the saplings, pond, and Ursaring¡¯s cave. He ran out of things to show them¡­ other than pokemon. Berry Falls, for as large as it was, didn¡¯t have much to offer to humans other than his services. That would need to change in the future.

    Anyways, seeing as he had nothing else to show them, he decided the tour he¡¯d been giving was over. With a small clap, he grabbed everyone''s attention. ¡°That¡¯s my ranch. Do any of you have questions?¡±

    Brock raised his hand, and without waiting to be called on, started to speak. ¡°When it comes to breeding, are you planning on focusing on a select group of pokemon? The Oddish saplings here are a great start for focusing on grass or poison type pokemon.¡±

    Ethan acknowledged his question with a nod. ¡°I¡¯m not currently planning on focusing on any single type of pokemon. My breeding is much more aligned along with my tutoring. For me to get eggs and then pokemon to be able to hand off to aspiring and suitable trainers, I need pokemon here that will produce eggs.¡±

    Ethan pointed off to the nearby pond, where the two local Maril floated happily upon the waters surface. ¡°Those Maril have the right of it¡ªLove. Whether it be out of a proper relationship or a heat of the moment passion, I don¡¯t want to house pokemon strictly for breeding. So, I need to tutor pokemon or daycare them, and then rely on them having a really good time at my ranch.¡±

    With a raised hand and a step forward, Dawn jumped into the conversation. ¡°Are you going to sell the pokemon you hatch? I¡¯ve looked into getting an Eevee from a breeder, but the price tag¡­¡±

    Dawn tapered off, but Ethan understood what she meant. He¡¯d seen the price tag of Eevee during his research. ¡°Yes, but I will make sure that the trainer who wants one of my bred pokemon will be a proper match. Although, I doubt I¡¯ll be getting anything remotely as expensive as an Eevee anytime soon.¡±

    Ash spoke next. ¡°Selling pokemon is¡­ difficult. I have a bunch of Tauros back home, and they¡¯ve had some babies while I¡¯ve been away. You can¡¯t sell them against their will, but Oak was running out of space for my stabled pokemon. I think his daughter gave them out as starter pokemon this year to some of the orphanages. It¡¯s a lot to handle.¡±

    That¡­ was surprisingly mature for his imaginative Ash Ketchum. It appeared that aging did do him some wonders. ¡°I¡¯ll cross that road when I get to it¡ª¡±

    *Boom!*

    Like a crack of thunder, a blast of sound rang out across his ranch. The group of protagonists looked around with wild eyes, but Ethan had heard this very sound many times before, and even expected to hear it today. He jerked slightly from being startled, but was calm and collected. Looking up into the air, ahead of where the sound originated, he barely caught the tail end of blue and red dipping down into the depths of the forest.

    If Ethan was a betting man, he¡¯d say that would be Latios and Tobias.

    Kinda anticlimactic for his first sighting of a legendary pokemon, as it was barely a second long and from about a mile away¡­ Ethan mentally shrugged; beggars can''t be choosers. ¡°That¡¯d be my customer for this week.¡± He said to the group as he started walking back to the entrance to his humble ranch.

    ¡°What pokemon was that?!¡± Ash exclaimed with a hint of intrigue.

    Ethan couldn¡¯t help it. Sometimes, knowing the potential outcomes of the future was too good to pass up. ¡°You¡¯ll find out one day. I¡¯m sure.¡±

    When the group exited the meadow and passed by Ethan¡¯s house, two heads of pink hair stood waiting at his door. A smile overtook his casual face, and Ethan shouted across the distance. ¡°Joyce! What a surprise!¡±

    Joyce Joy, dressed in her full Nurse Joy attire, turned at the sound of his voice and flashed him a brilliant beaming smile. She then grabbed her tag-along¡¯s shoulders and pushed them forward into the figurative spotlight.

    When Ethan thought of Nurse Joy, he thought of Joyce, who either by happenstance or weird genetics, looked remarkably similar to the Nurse Joy¡¯s from his memory. The mini-joy Joyce shoved forward wasn¡¯t an exact copy, but there was definitely more than a family resemblance going on. This mini-joy, and he meant that quite literally as this younger Joy might have stood five feet tall, was petite and obviously nervous, going by her slight wobbling fidget. In her arms, she carried a small Happiny, the baby, pre-evolved form of Chansey.

    ¡°Well, how else was little Jocelyn supposed to arrive? It¡¯s much easier for me to teleport her here with Cleffy¡¯s help.¡± Joyce replied, then came forward and gave Ethan a hug. Chatot took that as the moment to soar, jumping off his shoulder to circle overhead.

    As they pulled apart, the sound of a pokemon being released caused both Joyce and Ethan to turn their heads. Mere feet away from them, a Crogunk was desperately tugging on Brock¡¯s hand, pulling him away from Joyce and the awkwardly shifting Jocelyn. Brock was whisper-hissing to his pokemon, and Ethan could have sworn he heard him plead. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    Ignoring the small human-vs-pokemon battle going on, Ethan turned to Jocelyn, the new Nurse Joy of Berry Falls. ¡°Hello. I¡¯m Ethan.¡±

    The little Joy craned her neck to look up at him, and he saw her set her face into one of professionalism. ¡°Thank you for hosting me. I am Jocelyn Joy, and this is Happy.¡± She nodded down to the Happiny in her arms. ¡°I look forward to working with you, and thank you for this opportunity.¡±

    Joyce elbowed Joycelyn, causing her to let loose a small ¡®eek¡¯. She then huffed and scoffed. ¡°You¡¯ll be around each other for a long time, and if I know Ethan, I¡¯m sure he won¡¯t mind casual conversation and interactions.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right! Welcome to my ranch, Jocelyn. Kill Joy¡ªI mean Bill Joy spent the last few days setting up your Pseudo-Pokemon Center. How about we all go over there now? A tutoring customer is here as well, and I need to greet him.¡± Ethan nodded off down the cobblestone path, leading towards the entrance to Berry Falls and the new Pokemon Center.

    Nobody raised any disagreement, and they soon passed by Jessie and James¡¯ cottage. As they passed, Joyce scanned the building with sharpened eyes, then gave Ethan a pitying headshake.

    While discussing the building preparations and Jocelyn''s arrival with Joyce, Ethan felt it was important to inform her of the potential danger Jocelyn might face at the ranch due to the other new guests. At first, Joyce was understandably furious. After numerous back-and-forth calls¡ªduring which Joyce gathered more details with help from the Joy Clan and Cynthia¡ªshe ultimately decided that Jocelyn''s stay would proceed as planned. However, Joyce made one thing abundantly clear: if anything happened to Jocelyn, the full might of the Joy Clan would come crashing down on Jessie and James like the wrath of God.

    Apparently, those details were relayed to the Rocket Trio. He¡¯d wait and see if they took that threat seriously.

    As they stood in front of the building, Ethan decided to make some small talk. ¡°I haven¡¯t stepped foot inside, but I do have the key.¡± He reached into one of his vest pockets, pulling out both an Oran Berry and the large, old fashioned iron key. He handed the key to Jocelyn, and the berry to the now wiggling in anticipation and babbling Happiny in her arms.

    Ash, Brock, and Dawn still stood around observing, but once both Nurse Joys entered the Pokemon Center for their inspection, leaving them alone with Ethan once again, they got into a small huddle and talked to one another.

    As they talked, Ethan scanned around for Tobias, not seeing him near the entrance or on his ranch just yet. Distance was a little hard to make out, so maybe he landed a little farther out to hide his pokemon¡¯s identity.

    ¡°Pachi-pach!¡±

    ¡°Shuuuuu?!¡±

    Coming from the training field across the way, Pachirisu and Shuckle called out with questioning and accusatory calls. Shuckle, of course, was the questioning one. He had a load of berries in his yellow-noodly arms, and Pachirisu sat on top of his shell, riding along.

    ¡°Oh! A Pachirisu!¡± Dawn squealed, then hastily reached for her belt to release one of her pokemon. As the form materialized, Ethan was confused on why seeing Pachirisu would excite her. When he saw the familiar shape, he immediately understood; memories coming back full force.

    ¡°Pachi?¡± The new Pachirisu looked around at everyone nearby, wondering why it had been released, then looked across the way towards the bright red shell of Shuckle, and the other Pachirisu riding it.

    ¡°Pachi?!¡±

    ¡°Pachi-pach?!¡± Both murmured, then immediately ran at one another.

    Ethan laughed as his Pachirisu looked completely overwhelmed upon seeing another of its kind. He looked to Dawn, who had taken out her phone to probably take pictures, then spoke to the group. ¡°That¡¯s my Pachirisu and¡­ Shuckle¡­¡± He trailed off upon seeing the brilliantly red shell of Shuckle doing a full on speedrun of ¡®Withdraw until you can¡¯t¡¯. Every half a second, the hardening sheen of blue flickered over his shell.

    ¡°A Shuckle. I thought about getting one for the Gym back in Pewter.¡± Brock idly said, his Crogunk standing next to him and giving him the watchful stink eye.

    ¡°As much as I love my berry bud, he¡¯s not a battler¡ªnot yet.¡± Ethan remarked as he continued watching the pokemon interact. Shuckle¡¯s noodly yellow head poked out of its hole, then scanned the area before locking onto Ethan. With a large cry of ¡°Shuuuu!¡± His berry collector pulled himself forward with haste, leaving a tiny groove in the dirt as he hurried towards him.

    Ethan met him halfway, then heaved his partner up into his arms. ¡°You worry too much. I would tell you if something was wrong.¡±

    Then, almost as if he had spoken wrong into existence, a chilling, haunting sound of a very traumatizing piano track gently entered his ears.

    ¡°No¡­.¡± Ethan uttered in a mix of disbelief and dawning horror, spooking Shuckle from the tone of his voice. As he slowly craned his head upwards towards the sky, Shuckle, and everyone else around did the same. All conversations came to a standstill, human and pokemon alike.

    High overhead, was a Togekiss.

    Togekiss was slowly lowering towards the ground in a wide circular sweep. Atop the majestic and graceful pokemon, the blonde hair and trailing black trenchcoat of the champion flickered in the wind. In her hands, she held a small, black, pill-like speaker. He could feel her mocking grin from the ground, and he was going to have some very choice words with the Porygon in his computer when things calmed down.

    As Ethan¡¯s heart slowly calmed down from the video game PTSD flashback of the Approaching Cynthia piano song, he spotted another blip in the sky. Before he could even make out what it was, Cynthia landed and slipped off Togekiss with practiced ease. ¡°Hello, Ethan.¡±

    She looked so¡­ smug.

    ¡°Am I the last one to arrive?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Yes, although my client hasn¡¯t shown up yet. He landed outside in the forest for some privacy.¡± Ethan replied, not rising to her baited entrance. This wasn¡¯t the place to have that conversation. There were too many people around.

    Cynthia didn¡¯t look put off from his reaction, likely knowing that she¡¯d had the desired effect. With a casual raising of her hands, she stuck two of her fingers into her mouth and let loose a sharp, shrill whistle. Not a second later, a roar of acknowledgment came from the blip in the sky. Swooping down with unnatural speed, and landing with enough force to cause the dirt and grass around them to billow out in a blast of air, a towering Garchomp stood and imperiously glanced over everyone around.

    Before Ethan could admire the strong pokemon before him, a tangle of limbs and colorful hair flopped off the back of the large dragon. Crumpled on the grass, James, Jessie, and Meowth looked like they were praying that their ¡®ride¡¯ was over. Jessie even had running black streams of eyeliner running down her cheeks.

    It¡­ made Ethan feel kinda bad, even though he wasn¡¯t a part of it.

 Chapter 69

    As the rocket trio gathered themselves, Ethan took a moment to inspect them for the first time. They each were immediately recognizable, if a little different from their 2D counterparts from his memory. James still had his classic blue hair, and appeared to be around the same age as him. Although, he did look slightly nauseous from the flight he¡¯d just taken, and his casual clothes, which consisted of a pair of simple blue jeans and a black button-up shirt, were crinkled and dirtied from his foray on the ground.

    Jessie¡¯s hair defied physics. Well, it was that, or she alone could cause global warming with the amount of hairspray she needed to keep her deep magenta hair curved, long, and uniform just as it was in the anime. Other than her hair, which was the most eye-catching, Ethan was slightly alarmed to realize that he found her attractive. Jessie was¡­ well endowed, fit, and her long-sleeved, form fitting, black, cropped top looked specifically picked out to showcase her beauty and curves.

    As she stood with James¡¯ help, wiping her face with the back of her hand and causing her tear-streaked makeup to get even more messy on her face, Ethan tore his gaze from the humans to focus on the one pokemon in their group¡ªMeowth.

    The iconic mascot of Team Rocket was wobbly on his feet, probably still out of it from his wild ride atop a flying Garchomp. He did recover quicker from their abrupt landing than Jessie and James¡ªprobably some weird pokemon durability going on¡ªbut with one look around at everyone surrounding them, he simply stood and gauged the mood. When they locked eyes, Ethan gave the greedy cat a nod of acknowledgement, earning a grimace in return.

    Cynthia wasted no time for them to gather themselves, or she just frankly didn¡¯t care about them any longer, as she walked up to Ethan and handed him a hardy metallic lockbox and the small pill speaker. The speaker would be nice to have, and he didn¡¯t mind the small gift as it probably wasn¡¯t very expensive, but the lockbox held something very dangerous.

    No words were spoken as Ethan turned the small key, which was already inside the lock, and opened the box to view its contents. Inside, a gleaming, metallic, pristine six-round revolver was slotted into a cut-out interior pad. Next to the weapon, roughly three dozen bullets were set aside.

    Ethan closed the box, locked it again, then held it close. ¡°Hopefully, I¡¯ll never have to use this.¡±

    Cynthia¡¯s eyes roamed his face with focus, searching for something, but eventually never found what they were looking for. She nodded briskly, then looked at his visitors. Her gaze skimmed over Brock and Dawn, then focused squarely on Ash. ¡°Why, hello there. What a powerful Pikachu you have.¡± She teased, causing Ethan to groan.

    Ethan let Cynthia walk on by, her aim solely on the visiting group of protagonists. He instead walked forward toward the very wary and concerned trio of rockets. ¡°Jessie, James, Meowth.¡± He nodded to each of them. ¡°My name is Ethan Reed, and this is my ranch. It¡¯ll be your home for the foreseeable future.¡±

    He held out a hand and waited awkwardly as they each shared a look. Eventually, James reached out and shook it. As they shook, Ethan tightened his grip. ¡°I spoke out for you. Do not make me regret this.¡± He flicked his eyes down to his other hand, which held the lockbox. He jostled it in his grip, drawing their attention. ¡°A gun. Don¡¯t make me use it.¡±

    He let go of James¡¯ hand, which the man hastily drew back, and carried on. ¡°First off, you will be treated fairly here, and I know more about you than you could possibly imagine. This is not imprisonment, but there are rules while you live on my ranch. First and foremost, if you hurt, try to steal, or otherwise endanger any of the pokemon here, I will end you.¡±

    He stared at them with the most neutral and placid face known to mankind. There was no illusion of this being a joke. ¡°Secondly, I am a Move Tutor and Breeder. There will occasionally be guests. You may join me, and even learn what I do if you¡¯d like, but please don¡¯t interrupt the process.¡±

    He took a breath, and his serious expression faded. ¡°Look, I got saddled with you guys. I don¡¯t like this just as much as you do, but we can make this work. Jessie, I have talked to the Joy Clan and have arranged for you to aid the Nurse Joy here on my ranch. If you¡¯re willing, you can put that Chansey schooling to good use. James, I am planning on selling pokemon goods¡ªWool, milk, berry juice from my Shuckle¡ªyour expertise in business would be a boon, and I would sincerely like your help. Meowth, I¡¯m sure you¡¯re aware of how valuable a translator would be? You can put that to good use here.¡±

    Ethan gestured around them. ¡°This is your chance. Your first real chance to turn your lives around. I want you to succeed. The question is, do you want to as well?¡±

    The three of them judged him for a moment, and Meowth broke the stalemate. ¡°You''se a weird guy, but you seem honest. Which is weird. You¡¯re weird.¡±

    The confusion and slight head-tilt from the upright feline pokemon was concerning. They¡¯d just met and Meowth was already picking up on his weird ability to be an open book. ¡°Yup. I¡¯m weird. Pokemon seem to be able to tell my intentions and feelings. That¡¯s probably what you¡¯re sensing.¡±

    ¡°Wait, wait, wait!¡± Jessie exclaimed, pushing herself past James to stand in front of him. Her face was fierce, but also filled with a sense of stifled hope. ¡°I can be a pokemon nurse? Like, right fucking now?¡± This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    Ethan nodded then gestured to the Pokemon Center. ¡°Yes. The only reason you ¡®failed¡¯ your schooling¡± He air quoted the word, ¡°was because you are unable to use pokemon moves. You are still capable of doing everything else required, no?¡±

    ¡°YES! Ah¡­ uh, I mean yes, of course.¡± Jessie flicked her hair back in a display of confidence as James looked around at his surroundings for the first time.

    The blue-haired rocket didn¡¯t appear to be as aloof as his anime counterpart, and there was a calculating look present on his face. ¡°Jessie, Meowth¡­ Let¡¯s give this a try.¡± He stated unsurely as his eyes locked onto the hundreds of berry trees. James tore his gaze away and then looked at his friends. ¡°We can at least try, right? It¡¯s not like we¡¯ll be doing terrible work.¡± James gestured at the berry field. ¡°Look at those trees. How much money do you think is just hanging about?¡±

    Jessie and Meowth finally took stock of their surroundings, finding the idyllic scenery of Berry Falls. From where they stood, they could see the side of his berry fields, the training grounds, the Pokemon Center, and even the small cottage built just for them. Ethan decided to point that out. ¡°That cottage is for you guys. It¡¯s a little small, but it''s yours for as long as you stay.¡±

    Then, Ethan decided that it was time to reveal one of his surprises. It had taken paperwork and a lot of begging, but he really wanted to start off on the right foot with the rocket trio. Yes, he had threatened them, but he¡¯d very much prefer that they get along. He looked to Munchlax, who still held the little Piplup in his grasp. ¡°Munchlax, let that Piplup down and go bring me the two pokeballs in my nightstand drawer. Do it in under two minutes, and I¡¯ll convince Shuckle to give you a sip of his juice.¡±

    Piplup was promptly dropped straight onto the ground, on top of his head, as Munchlax sprinted across the clearing with shocking agility. The four of them watched the berry muncher go about his task, and Ethan carried on the previous conversation. ¡°As a show of good faith, I have used what limited connections I have to make a gesture of goodwill.¡±

    Roughly fifteen seconds later, the speedy form of Munchlax was coming their way again. Hid dark blue helper skidded to a stop, nearly barreling Ethan over, and instantly held out two pokeballs with nervousness. Ethan looked at his phone, and let out an audible ¡®hmmmm.¡¯ Munchlax fidgeted right up until Ethan gave his verdict. ¡°Good job! I¡¯ll make sure to talk to Shuckle later. Thank you for your help.¡±

    Ethan grabbed the two pokeballs, then looked at the patiently waiting rocket trio. He locked eyes with James, then casually tossed the two pokeballs towards him. ¡°James, release your pokemon.¡±

    James, caught by surprise, fumbled with catching the two pokeballs for a bit. Once he had them secure, he flashed Ethan one final glance before releasing the two pokemon held within.

    Before the two pokemon were fully revealed, one of them blitzed forward and jumped into James chest. The only thing anybody could make out was a quick flash of orange and red before an extremely happy bark echoed out around them. ¡°Gro!¡±

    James fell onto his butt as the force of the excited tackle knocked him back, but his eyes were as wide as saucers as he shakingly held up his first true friend. With but a whisper, disbelief in his tone, he murmured the Growlithe''s name. ¡°Growlie?¡±

    ¡°Gro! Grooo!¡± Growlithe, tail wagging with unadulterated excitement, jumped up and placed his paws on James chest, then gave his face a dozen licks of love.

    The second pokemon floated in the air, watching the reunion with small sparkling tears in the corners of its eyes. Before James could even come to terms with his childhood pokemon being there with him, the clinging of chimes drew his attention.

    ¡°Chiiiimecho! Ching-a-ling!¡±

    The floating wind-chime floated over and placed itself in between the hyper Growlithe and James¡¯ face, saving its trainer from more drool and slobber.

    Jessie had a bright smile of happiness for her friend¡¯s reunion, and Meowth grumpishly wiped his wet eyes in an attempt to appear manly.

    ¡°I tried to find Arbok and Wheezing, but I wasn¡¯t able to. I hope that this proves that I do want you guys to be happy here.¡± Ethan said once things began to calm down. Not wanting any undue praise for his actions, as he didn¡¯t do anything but ask about their retrieval, Ethan turned and left the trio by themselves. He¡¯d give them time to come to terms with their new environment, and he already had more than enough on his plate as is.

    As he made his way over to where Cynthia, Ash, Dawn, Brock, and now Joyce and Jocelyn stood in conversation, he spotted his last guest finally arriving. Tobias wore the same clothes he wore before, and he looked intrigued about the small gathering at his ranch. Ethan walked past Cynthia¡¯s group, where they were talking about battles, gyms, and pokemon, to meet Tobias one-on-one.

    ¡°Welcome to Berry Falls. Sorry about the group, today is a big day.¡± Ethan said as they met.

    Tobias nodded in understanding, his eyes roaming the talkative group before locking onto the out of place blonde hair of Cynthia. Ethan spoke up as he noticed Tobias¡¯ target. ¡°Not today Tobias. Absurdly strong pokemon or not, that¡¯s not what you¡¯re here for.¡±

    At the cryptic mention of his ¡®strong pokemon¡¯ Tobias¡¯ gaze swapped from Cynthia to Ethan¡¯s placid comforting smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I only know of two of them. The one you rode in on, and the one I suspect you caught here in Eterna Forest not too long ago. I live here, and it¡¯d be hard not to notice the disturbance.¡± Ethan gave him a knowing head nod and a slight grin. ¡°It¡¯s a good thing I have a confidentiality agreement. Rest assured, I haven''t, and won''t, speak about them with anyone.¡±

    With a judging stare, Tobias glared at him for a few moments. Ethan broke the awkward atmosphere. ¡°So, I¡¯m going to teach your Pyroar the move Heatwave for seventy-five thousand, correct?¡±

    Tobias still glared at him, but nodded in response. Ethan smiled. ¡°Great, we can get started now, or you can get situated here on the campgrounds beforehand. Up to you.¡±

    Tobias scanned the now curious group of conversationalists throwing glances their way. ¡°I¡¯ll set-up my tent and supplies. Too many prying eyes for my liking at the moment.¡±

    ¡°That sounds good to me. Just come by my home, which you can find by following this path down past the berry trees, or find any of my pokemon. They can come find me.¡± Ethan pointed off towards the camp grounds. ¡°Campgrounds are right over there. Feel free to nab some of my berries for your pokemon while you get situated.¡±

    Tobias stalked off, still slightly miffed about Ethan proclaiming his knowledge of his two legendary pokemon. It would have been impossible to keep a secret, but he hoped that he didn¡¯t sour their relationship before it even started by admitting what he knew.

 Chapter 70

    As Tobais left to set-up his things for his stay, Ethan joined the ongoing conversation between the rest of his ranch¡¯s guests. Jessie and Meowth stayed on the outskirts, having a conversation of their own, but were listening in to the main group¡¯s topics as they threw Ash dirty glares. James was too preoccupied with the reunion with his two pokemon to bother with the rest of the activities surrounding him.

    ¡°---and that¡¯s all of his pokemon. Well, if he hasn¡¯t caught anymore in the last few days. They seem to fall into his lap.¡± Cynthia finished just as Ethan arrived.

    ¡°Talking about me? Shameless.¡± He jested as the conversation came to a lull.

    Dawn¡¯s eyes were shining as she turned to face him, a timid look adorning her face. ¡°Do you think I can meet your Teddiursas?¡±

    Brock and Ash looked on with mirth, but also had slight smiles on their faces at her very ¡®girly¡¯ question. Ethan laughed and nodded. He was just happy that she asked. This surely wouldn¡¯t be the last time people would be interested in his two cute cubs, and he did like showing his pokemon to people. ¡°Sure! Usually, they are at home with their mom, but in anticipation of the many guests today, I stored them in their pokeballs for safety. Come on out!¡± He finished by grabbing their pokeballs from his vest, and tossing them out in front of everyone.

    Almost immediately, Ursaring¡¯s pokeball began to wobble and shake. It was their signal for her wanting to be let out. Mama bear could break out on her own. She was more than strong enough to be able to force her way out, but she had enough trust in him to know that he¡¯d never keep her in her ball. Also, appearing out of a pokeball at random could end in some awkward scenarios.

    ¡°Teddi!¡±

    ¡°Ted! Ted!¡±

    The two Teddiursa ran forward to tackle Ethan to the ground, their noses up and sniffing for his hidden cache of berries. Ethan fended them off with one hand as he awkwardly released Ursaring with the other one, which was still holding the gun¡¯s lockbox. At her appearance, the two rowdy cubs calmed a little. They were most likely afraid of being scolded, as there¡¯s been a few instances where they got a little too rough with him.

    Dawn cooed and knelt down, patting her skirt down as she did so. She looked to Ursaring, who bore a baleful stare through her head, and patiently waited for the Teddiursa to come to her. Ethan gently turned them around to face the kneeling girl and gave them a gentle shove forward. ¡°She wants to play with you. Be gentle.¡±

    ¡°Urs.¡± Mama bear grunted, reinforcing the gentleness of the playing.

    The two Teddi cautiously meandered forward, their hands coming up to their mouths to suck on. Dawn held out a hand, which the duo of Teddiursa sniffed, before rubbing their heads into. With a squeal, Dawn petted and patted his two Teddiursa under the watchful gaze of their mother.

    Ethan stepped over towards Ursaring, then whispered in her direction. ¡°These are the good ones. Keep an eye out for the three off to the side. If anything is going to happen, it¡¯ll be from them.¡±

    They both side-eyed the trio of rockets, who were watching the Teddiursa with¡­ mere curiosity. Jessie looked taken with them, not in a malicious way either. To be fair, Ethan had expected to see untold amounts of greed shining in their eyes. Maybe he was being slightly unfair and judging towards them, but these were his pokemon. He¡¯d continue being on guard until they proved themselves trustworthy.

    From behind the trio of rockets, one of his other pokemon was walking up the path towards the group, easel and paint supplies floating alongside him.

    Smeargle normally didn¡¯t use his moves for everyday tasks, but Ethan had suggested using them as a source of training. He would readily admit that he had no clue what the hell he was supposed to do when it came to training pokemon, but he figured that using moves and growing used to them was better than nothing. It also made life easier, which was just a bonus.

    The painter casually set-up his art supplies a good distance away¡ªpreparing to paint the scene and people before him¡ªas Ethan joined his side and asked a favor. ¡°Smeargle, I have a favor to ask. A very important one.¡± He stressed the importance, which made Smeargle turn to give him his full attention.

    Ethan held out the lockbox. ¡°I need you to take this and put it in the pokeball safe near the door. Do you remember the passcode?¡± Smeargle nodded, so Ethan carried on. ¡°This is dangerous. What is in this box can kill people. I trust you, but I am making sure you know what you¡¯re dealing with. Do not open this. Do you understand?¡±

    Smeargle nodded once again, then dropped his tail from his hands and took the lockbox from him. Ethan rubbed his head, then watched as his pokemon jogged down the path back towards his house. He waited for two or three minutes for Smeargle to return, not joining the others while he waited. When Smeargle arrived, he made sure to check to make sure everything went well. Smeargle gave him a thumbs up and a serious nod.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

    ¡°Thank you, enjoy your painting. If you¡¯re running low on supplies, don¡¯t forget to let me know.¡± Ethan finished with another rub of the painter¡¯s head and then joined the group once again.

    Dawn was still absorbed with his Teddiursa, and Ursaring had plopped down on her butt to watch the ongoings with a keen eye. Brock, Ash, and Pikachu were animatedly talking with Cynthia, while both Joyce and Jocelyn were in private talks with one another. Joyce was pointing around the ranch, most likely explaining the layout to Jocelyn, and Jocelyn¡¯s Happinny, Happy, gurgled and waved at everyone around.

    Ethan slid into Joyce and Jocelyn¡¯s conversation and decided he should get some business out of the way. ¡°Settling in okay?¡± He asked the younger of the two, earning a slight smile and nod.

    ¡°The center is in good condition, and your ranch is quite beautiful.¡± Jocelyn replied.

    ¡°Good, good. Do you know if people can register pokemon here at this center? Or would I have to make a trip to Eterna City for that?¡± He asked, earning a laugh from Joyce.

    Joyce looked over towards Smeargle with a knowing glint in her eye. ¡°You can do that here. How many pokemon do you have now, Ethan?¡±

    Without even needing a moment to think, he instantly responded. ¡°Eleven.¡±

    ¡°Eleven!?¡± Joyce exclaimed, not expecting the answer.

    Ethan held up his hand and started to count them out, bending a finger with every name. ¡°Pachirisu, Chatot, Smeargle, Munchlax, Skiddo, Emolga, Tinkatink, Shuckle, Teddirursa, another Teddiursa, and Ursaring.¡± One the final name, which was number eleven, Ethan just stuck his pointer finger up again.

    Joyce waved her hands rapidly. ¡°Wait, wait, wait. You caught the Munchlax? Wait! Was that egg a Tinkatink!?¡±

    ¡°Yup! It was a busy morning when the eggs were hatched. I¡¯ll need to register them.¡± Ethan sighed, remembering that eventful night.

    Joyce looked at Jocelyn and gave her an encouraging nod and a smile. Jocelyn, picking up on the first of her duties coming right at her, straightened up and inclined her head. ¡°We¡ªI can do that for you right now.¡±

    Ethan waved her off. ¡°It¡¯s not that important. We can do it once things calm down. Let¡¯s get you settled in first.¡±

    Ethan then walked off to join the Rockets, and pointed off down the road. ¡°C¡¯mon. Let¡¯s get you guys situated.¡± He walked right by them, and only looked back to see that they were following along.

    Once they reached the small cottage, Ethan let them take the lead as they entered inside. It was a small and cozy cottage, but a very picturesque place to live. ¡°This is all yours. You have solar panels installed, and in the worst cases I can have one of my electric pokemon come over and charge the little generator. You can borrow some of my spare seeds to start your own garden here in your yard, and you can grab some of my berries whenever you like.¡±

    James¡¯ Chingling didn¡¯t even bother going inside, instead opting to connect itself to the small awning above the doorway with a content and happy smile. It made soft chings and changs as it wisped in the wind. Growlie, James¡¯ Growlithe, sprinted around its new home with the zoomies. James tried to wrangle his childhood friend, but was doing so haphazardly and with a tearful, happy smile.

    Jessie looked around imperiously, but with a hint of unease. If Ethan were to make a guess, he¡¯d assume that she wasn¡¯t comfortable having ¡®her own place.¡¯ Meowth was going around opening drawers, and overall inspecting the home and its belongings.

    Ethan took this moment to speak with some more privacy. ¡°I really want this to work. I know you guys¡ªTrust me, I really do. You aren¡¯t bad people. Please, don¡¯t prove me wrong.¡± He pointed outside, out a small cobbled window. ¡°You can have your pokemon out and about, but please let any carnivorous pokemon know that they must hunt in the surrounding forests, and they must NEVER hunt on the ranch¡¯s grounds.¡±

    Jessie looked shocked for a moment, before turning to face Ethan with her hands folded across her chest, wearing a frown. ¡°Cynthia has our pokemon.¡±

    Ethan blinked in mild surprise, then held up a finger. ¡°Let¡¯s go solve that then.¡±

    Jessie and Ethan left Meowth and James in their new home and worked their way up back the road, only to find that the whole group had moved over towards the training field. Joyce¡¯s Pikachu, Ash¡¯s Pikachu, His Pachirisu, and Dawn¡¯s Pachirisu, were playing around in the center. It looked to be a game of tag or some weird wrestling match, Ethan wasn¡¯t too sure, but it looked like they were all having fun.

    ¡°Cynthia, they need their pokeballs.¡± Ethan said as he approached, causing Cynthia to spin around to face him and Jessie.

    Her smile faded, and the ever-growing familiar look of The Champion took its place. She pulled off the from onlooking crowd and stood before them as she stared down Jessie. ¡°You know what will happen if things go awry?¡±

    Jessie meekly nodded, and Ethan spoke up for her. The thought of being separated from his own pokemon made him just a little bit empathetic. ¡°Give her the pokeballs. You¡¯ve done your part, I got this.¡±

    Cynthia grabbed two belts of pokeballs from her small side-satchel, then handed them to Ethan. Not knowing whose was whose, he held them up towards Jessie, and she easily snatched hers out from James.

    Instantly, she walked off a good distance and released her pokemon. From where he stood, he could see a Seviper, a Dustox, and the large blue forms of Wobbuffet. Even from roughly thirty or forty feet away, he could hear the large cry of ¡°Wooooobbuffet!¡± and see the small salute it gave towards her.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Cynthia murmured from his side.

    ¡°I know you are. Don¡¯t do it again.¡± Ethan replied, not looking away as Jessie knelt, hugged, and spoke to each of her pokemon in turn. After having a private conversation with each of them, Jessie stood and pointed off to the berry fields in question. Ethan nodded in answer, and she walked with them to get them some food.

    Before Ethan left to give James his own partners back, he left a final message for Cynthia. ¡°Try to get Brock, Ash, and Dawn out of my ranch. I don¡¯t want them here longer than they have to be, but I also don¡¯t want to be mean about it.¡±

    Cynthia snorted, or, well¡­ huffed some air out her nose. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡±

 Chapter 71

    As Ethan left the rocket¡¯s cottage after handing James his belt of pokemon, he rubbed his forehead and thought about what was left for the day. Jessie, James, and Meowth were being very well behaved, and he had honestly thought that they would have been the biggest wrench thrown into this cluster of meetings. Cynthia, Joyce, and Jocelyn had the trio of protagonists entertained and out of trouble¡­ or at least he hoped so, and Tobias was chilling by himself at the campgrounds setting up his things for his stay.

    Looking up to the sky, Ethan estimated that it was a little after noon, and that it was time to feed his pokemon. As he stalked off towards his home, he slowed in his steps and facepalmed. ¡°I¡¯m an idiot.¡±

    With a sudden swerve on his heels, Ethan instead walked off through his berry fields off towards his garden. Jessie and James had no food. Their small cottage wasn¡¯t stocked up, so they were going to have to eat what he ate for a while.

    As Ethan walked down the rows of his berry trees, opting to pick his pokemon¡¯s meals straight from the source as he made his way, he saw Jessie and her trio of pokemon wandering through as well. As he approached, he could hear Jessie speaking to her pokemon.

    ¡°Slow down! There¡¯s like ten-thousand berries here! They aren¡¯t going to just disappear! If he charges me for these, you¡¯re going to be the ones paying off the cost!¡± Jessie was admonishing her pokemon, but obviously worried about going bankrupt.

    Ethan couldn¡¯t help smiling at his eavesdropping, but her comments did raise a question in his mind. He¡¯d been told time and time again that he sat on top of a fortune of berries, but he didn¡¯t actually know how much they cost. Hell, he found smaller lonesome berry trees off in the forest when he first arrived here. He used them to plant his own trees, as he was too scared to keep wandering off.

    It couldn¡¯t be that hard to grow them. He did it with zero knowledge and elbow grease. So, why were they expensive? Were they a hundred pokedollars each? That would make them roughly a US dollar each. If he went by Jessie¡¯s numbers, that meant he had roughly a million pokedollars of berries, or ten-thousand USD worth.

    And they grew back faster than he could pick¡¯em.

    Looking down at the base of the nearby Cheri Berry Tree he stood next to, Ethan counted thirteen overripe and unusable berries just laying near its base. His small smile from Jessie¡¯s conversation with her pokemon slowly turned into a frown. He was wasting money. Money that he sorely needed.

    ¡°What the fuck?! What kind of tree is this?! Don¡¯t eat that!!!¡± Following Jessie¡¯s shout, a small thunk was heard, followed by an annoyance filled hiss. It was probably Jessie bonking her Seviper to keep it from eating something it wasn¡¯t supposed to, but it made Ethan show himself in worry.

    Stepping underneath the low canopy of the line of trees, Ethan cut across into the next aisle and laid his eyes upon the source of Jessie¡¯s confusion. At the end of the row of trees, a new tree had just begun budding. It was short, freshly planted, and not ready to produce any berries, and it was weird! Jessie¡¯s Serviper had coiled around it, and was inspecting the misshapen gray tree from top to bottom in curiosity and confusion.

    Each of his berry trees had their own unique shape and size, but all shared similarities with one another in some way, shape, or form. This new tree was sorely out of place. The first oddity was its gray bark and silver leaves, which had tiny white petals of budding flowers growing throughout. There was only one berry on the tree; a small, unripe, miniscule thing growing from within one of the many flowers. It was a mix of dark gray and cream, and it created an upside down question mark pattern across the skin.

    This was what clued Ethan in on the name of the tree. ¡°It¡¯s an Enigma Berry tree.¡±

    His statement caused Jessie and her pokemon to swivel their heads towards him. Ethan walked up closer, gently raised his hand, rubbed his fingers across the smooth and silky silver leaves of the tree. He dropped his hand, stepped back, then looked it up and down. ¡°I didn¡¯t plant it, but I know who did.¡±

    Memories of Shuckle and Munchlax trying to hide the evidence of their little berry planting came to the forefront of his mind. They had a large mound of buried berries, an assortment of different types¡ªProbably one, or a few, of every type he had on the ranch. They¡¯d somehow stumbled themselves into making an Enigma Berry tree.

    From what he could recall, Enigma berries restored a quarter of the user¡¯s HP if they got hit by a super-effective move¡­ but in the real world, that didn¡¯t sound possible.

    What? Would his pokemon just munch on it after they got smacked down? A Sitris would do the same thing! He¡¯d need to do some research on what it did, and even if berries in battle were a thing people used.

    ¡°Don¡¯t touch this tree. Let it grow.¡± Ethan stated as he turned to Jessie''s pokemon.

    Seviper was a big¡¯ol scary snake, but Ethan was never afraid of snakes in the past. They felt like basketballs, and they were pretty cool. Dustox was gently flapping its wings, causing little sparkles of pollen or some other substance to flutter down on top of the stalwart Wobbuffet who just looked happy to be here.

    He spoke to them, not to Jessie. ¡°You can eat the other berries whenever you¡¯re hungry. Do not hurt any pokemon on the ranch and we¡¯ll have no problems.¡±

    He then turned to address Jessie. ¡°They¡¯re free, but only because you¡¯ll be helping out on the ranch. If you and James help me sell them, maybe you can receive a cut of the profits.¡±

    Ethan pointed off towards his garden, which was easily visible from this distance. ¡°I¡¯m grabbing some food to stock in your house. I¡¯m a vegetarian, so you won¡¯t be getting any meat from me, but it¡¯s better than nothing. When you get back to your home, tell James and Meowth that I¡¯ll be over soon.¡± The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    Jessie dumbly nodded, obviously still very unsure about the ranch and her whole situation. Ethan let her be, and then spent the next twenty or so minutes picking fruits, veggies, and grains.

    Gloom and the Oddish deserved that Leaf Stone if he had anything to say about it. Every night, they spent some of their energy to help him grow his food and berries. They weren¡¯t even his pokemon, and they did more for him than he could have ever asked for. When more of them evolved, he would surprise them with the chance. Gloom hasn¡¯t been a Gloom for very long, so he would wait a bit before giving him the offer of becoming a Vileplume.

    Aftering filling up his white Silph CO bag to the brim, he made his way over towards the rocket¡¯s cottage and knocked on the door.

    *Ching-a-ling! Ching-Ching-a-ling!*

    ¡°Chiiime!¡±

    Ethan waved at the dangling Chimecho who looked to be having the time of its life. Ethan watched it spin and twirl as it made gentle wind-chime sounds until the door eventually opened, revealing Jessie. Ethan held his bag up. ¡°Got your food.¡±

    Jessie opened the door fully, but didn¡¯t reply. Ethan made his way inside, then started emptying his bag on the counter. Strawberries, Blueberries, Onions, Tomatoes, Green Beans, and more spilled out to cover the entirety of the kitchen countertop. Once finished, Ethan set aside some small bundles of seeds and wiped his hands. He smiled at a job well done.

    ¡°That should sort you out for a good while. Make sure to plant your seeds for your own garden! I¡¯ll have one of the Oddish or Gloom come by to help you out with growing them. For now, you can relax or wander about. Get familiar with the ranch and your new home. I live right down the way near the meadow. So, don¡¯t hesitate to come ask for anything that you need.¡±

    ¡°Thanks¡­ Do we need to, like, work or something?¡± Jessie asked as she leaned on the nearby wall, arms crossed. She was still uncomfortable, and he wasn¡¯t going to blame her for it.

    Ethan nodded to her question. ¡°Eventually, yes, but not for now. Take a few days to get yourself accustomed to this whole thing. There¡¯s no big rush. You¡¯ll learn that what I have going on is pretty laid-back.¡±

    Ethan made his way back towards the door and spotted James exiting their small sleeping room with Meowth. He gave them a wave, which James surprisingly returned with some enthusiasm, then let them be.

    Before Ethan joined up with the rest of his visitors, he quickly ran back home and prepared a meal for his own pokemon. Chatot was chilling in her nest atop his house and easily spotted him as he made his way down the cobblestone path. She knew what time it was, and must have been hungry, as she fluttered down to land in her rightful spot.

    As Ethan sliced berries, fruits, and veggies in for his friends, Chatot snacked on the seeds set aside in a small pile for her to enjoy. She preferred berry seeds, but she would eat pretty much anything he handed to her. At times, Ethan wondered if natures existed. If they did, Chatot would definitely be a neutral one. She was almost as bad as Munchlax¡­ well, if he ignored quantity.

    Once the plates and bowls were all set-up with everyone''s favorites, Ethan had Chatot go and round up the others as he fed a sleepy Emolga, lazy Skiddo, and excited Tinkatink. His three baby pokemon chatted with one another as they ate¡ªand in Tinkatink¡¯s case, played with her food by smashing everything into a paste before slobbering on it¡ªas Ethan watched on carefully.

    Tinkatink was the one he had to keep an eye on, as her hyperactive nature made a mess. Skiddo laid on her side, not even bothering to stand up or sit as she lazily chewed on a wad of leafy greens, and Emolga nibbled on her berries as she talked animatedly. Ethan imagined that she was talking about her flight earlier in the day, but he would never know if he was correct.

    As much as he¡¯d like to stay around, today was a busy day, and sadly, he didn¡¯t have time to sit and eat with his pokemon. He¡¯d already ignored the other visitors a bit too much already, with him having been gone for nearly an hour.

    As a consolation prize for their long wait, he quickly made up some goodie-bags filled with one of each type of berry, then left to hand them out. As he jostled down the steps of his home, he spotted Munchlax sprinting his way over. For such a hefty and normally slow pokemon, Munchlax could schmoooove when he wanted too.

    The not-so-little glutton barely managed a greeting as he skidded to a stop before running inside to feast, joining the others with a loud roar of celebration.

    Smeargle was calmly walking up the path in the distance, and as they passed one another, Ethan told him to make sure to watch over the little ones. His artsy painter nodded like it was no big deal and continued on his way for his meal.

    When he arrived at the training field, he was just in time for everyone to be leaving. Ash, Dawn, and Brock were leading the way off towards the exit to his ranch, causing the stomach lump that Ethan didn¡¯t even know he had to melt away. He joined the group and listened in to the on-going conversation.

    ¡°... been fun, but I have a gym battle at Eterna City in three days! We gotta get a move on!¡± Ash finished speaking, and Ethan spoke next, much to their surprise.

    They didn¡¯t even know he had joined them once again.

    Shamefully, he was glad he wasn¡¯t a person of interest to them. Today had been going smoothly; much too smoothly if he had anything to say about it, and he wanted to keep it that way. His ¡®I am not important enough for a filler episode¡¯ strategy was working well.

    Ethan held out the three goodie-bags he¡¯d just made not ten minutes ago. ¡°I made a small gift-bag for you all. Thanks for stopping by.¡±

    Ash looked like a kid on Christmas and quickly snatched a bag from his grasp with glee, while Dawn and Brock graciously accepted theirs with a more calm demeanor. As Ash riffled through to find out what was inside, Ethan calmly explained for the others in the group. ¡°One of each type of berry that¡¯s grown on my ranch. It¡¯s not much, but hopefully they¡¯ll come in handy. Good luck on your journey.¡±

    ¡°Thanks for the warm welcome, and best of luck to you on your tutoring and breeding endeavors.¡± Brock replied warmly and held out a hand to shake, which Ethan accepted.

    Cynthia spoke next, her tone encouraging. ¡°I hope to see you at this year''s conference. Who knows? If you win, maybe you¡¯ll get that battle to asked for.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll see you then!¡± Ash boasted, then spoke to his partner. ¡°Right, Pikachu?¡±

    Pikachu cheered and flicked his tail, determination filling the small electric mouse. ¡°Pika-Piiiii!¡±

    Brock, Dawn, and Ash left his ranch, leaving him, Cynthia, Joyce, and Jocelyn behind. As soon as they were out of sight, Cynthia spoke calmly for all to hear. ¡°There¡¯s no chance he¡¯s going to win the conference.¡±

    Ethan slowly turned his head toward her, face utterly unimpressed. ¡°I wonder how you came to that conclusion.¡±

    Joyce groaned and Jocelyn looked confused as Cynthia replied. ¡°I know someone who knows the future.¡±

 INTERLUDE - Jenny 2

    ¡°Jen, it¡¯s not him.¡± Jennifer¡¯s aunt gently and slowly closed the laptop with confliction written across her weary and tired face. ¡°This is a dead end.¡±

    Jennifer tried to control her rising ire and frustration at being stonewalled at every turn during these past few weeks. Her hands clenched, doing their utmost to keep her calm, but it wasn¡¯t enough. Her aunt has been giving her the run-around for the last ten minutes after Larry brought her in, and she was sick of it.

    She snapped.

    With a loud, startling slam onto her table, she began her tirade. ¡°Why isn¡¯t it him, Aunt Sherry?! Why?! Orange tailed Smeargle, not his registered pokemon, records locked away? If Ethan Reed lives in the city, then he¡¯s sure as shit suspect number one! You know this! I know this! Tell me why I¡¯m being locked out!¡±

    With her outburst, which caused those outside the office to slow their strolls around the office and subtly eavesdrop, her aunt¡¯s own patience seemed to end. With a raised voice, not as loud as her own but harsher in nature, her aunt snapped back. ¡°I¡¯m trying to fucking protect you! You idiot! Do you think that maybe there¡¯s a reason you¡¯re not able to access his information? Think! Who can tell me what to share with my officers?! I am the Chief of Police!¡±

    ¡°That would be me.¡±

    Jenny and her aunt spun their heads to find an older gentleman standing in the doorway to her office. Previously, Jenny had thought that her aunt looked tired, but this man made her look like a preppy teen ready for their journey. His long trench coat was soaked with water, and he looked like a beaten puppy.

    The man entered inside her office, closed the door, then looked down at Larry who stood protectively in his way. Her Espurr¡¯s eyes glowed a brilliant violet before dimming once again, causing Larry to begrudgingly move out of the way.

    ¡°Sherry and Jennifer Jenny, I presume?¡± The man asked, although he clearly already knew the answer.

    Throwing a narrow-eyed glance toward her aunt, she was shocked to find that she looked defeated. Looking back to the man, she asked a question of her own. Although, she probably could have worded it better. ¡°Who the fuck are you?¡±

    ¡°I am Agent Looker of the International Police.¡± Agent Looker shook his trenchcoat, causing splatters of water droplets to spray off around him. Larry immediately hobbled away and hid under her desk, avoiding the water. ¡°Sorry, I had to teleport in from headquarters and it¡¯s raining up a storm there.¡±

    Next, Looker sat down in the chair opposite her desk. With a knowing look and a head jerk towards the door directed at her Aunt Sherry, her Aunt sighed, gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze, and murmured low. ¡°Cooperate.¡±

    Jennifer couldn¡¯t help but feel like she was in trouble. Her instincts as a detective had alarm bells ringing, but she couldn¡¯t fathom that she¡¯d done anything to warrant a visit from Interpol. Before she could think about her current predicament any longer, the sound of her office door gently closing brought her back to the present.

    ¡°Do you know why I am here, Detective?¡± Agent Looker calmly asked, but still looked too weary. He obviously didn¡¯t want to be here, at least, that¡¯s what she gathered.

    ¡°No.¡± She replied, still a little testy from the events of the day. Her arms were crossed as she leaned back into her chair.

    Looker gave her a searching look, apparently not finding what he expected, judging by his slight frown. ¡°Ethan Reed, why did you look into him?¡±

    That caused a little lightbulb to spring into her mind. ¡°You were tracking his records?¡±

    The Interpol agent nodded and drummed his fingers on the armrest of his chair, debating about what to say. ¡°We are. Although, I am not at liberty to say why.¡± Agent Looker scanned her desk, finding her reports and papers about the Sird case strewn about. ¡°Detective Jennifer Jenny; four years on the force, a quick riser through the ranks and not due to nepotism¡­ A fine officer of the law. You had quite a list of bad habits, but recently changed your ways. No more smoking, drinking, and you¡¯ve been in AA meetings and haven¡¯t missed a meeting in over a year.¡±

    Something on her face must have changed, as Looker held up his hands placatingly. ¡°There¡¯s no judgement from me. Smoking is a bad habit I still need to kick.¡± After lowering his hands, he interlocked his fingers and leaned forward with his elbows on his knees. He looked her directly in the eyes, then said. ¡°Ethan Reed is off limits. Your aunt wasn¡¯t lying about trying to keep you safe. It¡¯s not him you need to worry about, it''s us.¡±

    Before she could even utter a response, Agent Looker said something that threw her for a loop. ¡°Sird Saque. Send a picture of her to Lorelei Kanna of the Kanto Elite Four and explain your case. She¡¯ll be able to help you with some hefty charges that will stick. Consider that a peace offering¡­ The carrot to the stick.¡± This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    Agent Looker stood from his seat and let loose a heavy sigh. ¡°You¡¯ve never seen, heard about, or otherwise remember the name Ethan Reed. Do you understand?¡±

    Jennifer glared at him with her amber eyes and asked a final question as Agent Looker headed for the door. ¡°Is he dangerous? A Criminal?¡±

    Looker stopped at the door, turned his head to looker squarely in the eyes, and spoke plainly. ¡°No. He isn¡¯t a criminal nor is he dangerous. This was the warning to stop looking into things above your paygrade. You may have stopped many of your bad habits, but sticking your nose into places they shouldn¡¯t be is still one of them.¡± He looked down, spotting Larry glaring at him from under the desk. ¡°I hope we never meet again.¡±

    And with that, Agent Looker left her office and strolled past the rest of the officers without a care in the world.

    For the next few minutes she sat alone in her office, staring into the air as she ruminated about the conversation that had just unfolded. She was threatened. It wasn¡¯t explicitly stated, but she was. Ethan Reed was off the table, and she still had no clue as to why. The smart play was to leave it alone, but investigations were her lifeblood, and she¡¯d be damned if a little bit of rank got in the way.

    ¡°Lock the door.¡± She said aloud, causing Larry to jump into action. With a simple will of his mind, the deadbolt on her door clicked into place. Larry then hopped up into her lap, then settled down, waiting for her to do what she needed.

    Jennifer opened up her laptop and started doing detective work the old fashioned way. If she couldn¡¯t access his records, then she¡¯d need to do it old school¡­ and by oldschool, she searched up his trainer¡¯s information. Instantly, she got a glimpse of the man who she was looking for, even if even his trainer¡¯s record was bare.

    Ethan Reed, a twenty-nine year old Sinnohian who has zero recorded battles to his name. Registered roughly two months ago here in Eterna City, most likely at the Pokemon Center going by the backdrop of his shoddy picture. Speaking of, the man looked like a mess. He wore a standard, nondescript white shirt with a pokeball on the front; Cheap, unassuming, and common. He looked freshly shaven in the picture, but had long, unkempt, and disheveled hair.

    His list of registered pokemon was most certainly unique, much like her own; A Chatot, Pachirisu, Shuckle, and two Teddiursa. Not typical pokemon one would take on for battles.

    His trainer profile was nearly entirely empty, except for one confirmed recorded non-league battle¡­ against Cynthia Shirona, Champion of Sinnoh. It wasn¡¯t an official battle, but a battle nonetheless. Attached to the profile were several video links, and after quickly clicking on one, she watched the battle unfold. The man got his ass handed to him, and Cynthia was taking it easy on him for sure. By all means, this wasn¡¯t a direct dig towards him, as she would get her ass beat to Spear-Pillar and back if she had to go against Cynthia, but it was still a poor showing. The video was pretty bad in quality due to the Snowscape taking over the field, but it was still a good estimation on his battling skill.

    He was alright. A nervous wreck for sure, most likely due to inexperience, but he wasn¡¯t too bad. She¡¯d be shitting a brick if she were facing Cynthia as well.

    The location of the battle was unfamiliar. In the backdrop, a long row of berry trees stood out in sharp contrast to the simple dirt field and snowy weather. She noted down ¡®berry field¡¯ in a small notepad, then continued her search.

    Even though his trainer profile was bare, it was both a blessing and a curse. While there wasn¡¯t much to go on, what was there was easy to find and stood out like a sore thumb. He had an affiliated link, which led to the registry for Pokemon League approved breeding and listed his own website.

    His website was sleek and modern, filled with pictures of the man himself and numerous pokemon on a picturesque ranch. In one of the pictures, Ethan stood next to a smiling Smeargle who held his orange-tipped tail next to a pond filled with several Magikarp, Feebas, and Maril, there was even an angry Krabby perched on a rock in the back, and a silly looking Lotad struggling to climb out of the water with a dopey smile.

    A tap on her chest caused her to look down. Larry was looking up at her, wearing a slight smile on his face. She went to smile back, but found that she was already wearing one. With an awkward cough, she wiped the smile off her face and continued her investigation.

    It appeared that Ethan Reed was a man of many talents. He was a Move Tutor, Breeder, and Daycare provider all in one. Currently, he was open for business and even had a contract to look over before any transactions would occur. After a read through, it looked fairly benign. There were some oddities, such as the Pokemon Egg stipulations and the carnivorous pokemon warnings, but it was all very much above board and fairly common.

    His address was¡­ Route 205, Offshoot 1B, Eterna Forest? He lived in the forest?!

    ¡°What the fuck?¡±

    ¡°Purr.¡±

    Jen looked down once again, finding the disapproving glare of Larry judging her for her vocabulary. ¡°Fuck you, Larry. I am a grown woman.¡±

    ¡°Esp-eps-eps.¡± With a shake of his head, combined with his disapproving tone, Larry continued his judgement.

    Looking back at the website, a very bad idea came to mind. With a shit-eating grin, she asked her starter a question. ¡°Hey Larry, do you think Champ would like to spend some time learning a new move?¡±

    Larry looked so disappointed at her idea, but nodded anyway. Indeed, Champ would always like to learn new moves¡­ It was a rhetorical question.

    ¡°Well then, how about we sign him up and meet Mr. Reed in person?¡± She asked.

    Larry, at this point, was done. With a lazy tap to his pokeball on her belt, he returned himself to escape the conversation.

    ¡°Traitor.¡± She mumbled as she signed the contract and requested the services of her new interest¡ª

    With a jolt Jennifer raised from her seat, knocking her chair back and causing it to clang into the filing cabinets behind her She sprang towards the door, stuck her head out of her office, and pulled aside the first person that walked by. ¡°Get in contact with Kanto and tell them I need to talk with Elite Four Lorelei. Thanks!¡±

 Chapter 72

    ¡°Um¡­ Ethan. Why are we still standing here?¡± Jocelyn broke the awkward silence as their now much smaller group stared listlessly into the forest¡ªThe exit to his ranch.

    ¡°Because everything is going too smoothly and I am waiting for Arceus to play his prank.¡± Ethan instantly responded, eyes still staring out into the forest ahead. It¡¯d been three minutes since Ash, Brock, and Dawn had left and he¡¯d said nothing the entire time. Cynthia, Joyce, and Jocelyn had some small conversation, but he had tuned them out.

    Feeling a pressure on his shoulder, he turned his head to find Joyce¡¯s hand giving him some comfort. ¡°It¡¯s alright, Ethan. You know, the world isn¡¯t out to get you.¡±

    Ethan snorted and rolled his eyes. ¡°Well, it literally got me once, but you''re right, it''s not out to get me¡ªit¡¯s just passive-aggressively sabotaging me. The other shoe is about to drop, just you wait."

    He wasn¡¯t a betting man, but if he were, he¡¯d bet that Ash and company didn¡¯t just wander about a ranch for an hour or two, have a good time, then leave with nothing spectacular happening. That just wasn¡¯t in the playbook, and he was prepared for anything today¡ªHe¡¯d made plans.

    ¡°Pachirisu! Come over here for a second!¡± Ethan shouted over his shoulder, his head not turning away from the depths of the forest beyond.

    With nary a sound, Pachirisu climbed up his back and coiled his tail around Ethan¡¯s neck like a thick scarf. ¡°Pach?¡±

    ¡°Do me a favor? Do a circle around the ranch and ask the wild pokemon if anything weird has happened or is happening. I have a bad feeling¡­¡± He trailed off, and his tone of voice or weird anti-empath shenanigans must have alerted his first friend into how he was truly feeling, as Pachirisu nodded, gave a salute, then used him as a springboard to launch himself into the forest.

    ¡°Pikachu, why don¡¯t you go help out Pachirisu? I¡¯m sure he¡¯d appreciate it.¡± Joyce called out, and Ethan managed to catch a glimpse of a yellow rodent dart into the forest in the corner of his eye.

    ¡°Are we going to stand here all day? Ethan, nothing bad is going to happen.¡± Cynthia tried to be confident and reassuring, but everything was still going smoothly¡ªToo smoothly with everything that was involved.

    ¡°Emol-mol-mol-mol-mol-mol-mol-mol¡ª¡± The hyperactive and obviously zoomied voice of Emolga rang out from inside his pocket.

    With a red face, Ethan quickly took out his phone and stopped the personalized ringtone he and Emolga had made this morning, much to the chagrin of everyone else. Once Emolga had discovered that his phone could play back her voice, she spent the early mornings listening to herself talk.

    ¡°That was so cute¡­¡± Jocelyn muttered loud enough for everyone to hear.

    Ignoring them, he turned, stepped away, and answered the phone. ¡°Hello? Ethan, speaking.¡±

    ¡°Hey! I saw your website and just had some questions about the whole thing¡­¡± A cheerful female voice sprang to life on the opposite end, and the stone that had settled on his chest lost a few pounds at the very innocuous call.

    ¡°Oh? Sure thing! I¡¯ll be happy to help! Ask away!¡± Ethan replied, and noticed the obvious eavesdropping of Joyce as she slithered her way to his side.

    ¡°So firstly, I am kinda confused about the location listed? Your business is inside Eterna Forest?¡±

    That was very much an understandable concern. ¡°That¡¯s correct. If you take Route 205 from Eterna City, it¡¯s a two-day walk to the new offshoot that leads directly to my ranch. It¡¯s pretty deep into the forest, so make sure your pokemon are strong enough to make the trek if you do decide to come by.¡±

    ¡°Hmmm¡­ Okay, that makes sense. It was just a little confusing, ya know? With you not having a proper address and all that. Next question, I didn¡¯t see a list of moves offered? Is that something we have to talk about in person? The last Move Tutor I saw specialized in specific moves...¡±

    Ethan spared a glance toward the obviously interested Joyce, going by her wry smile, but turned his body away to block her and protectively cupped the phone to his ear. ¡°I am pretty generalized. I¡¯ve tutors a pretty wide array of moves already. Swift, Work Up, Low Kick, Sunny Day, Rain Dance, Sucker Punch, and a few others. Were you looking for a specific move?¡±Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    ¡°I have been meaning to have one of my pokemon learn Temper Flare. Do you think that¡¯s doable?¡±

    Temper Flare? Ethan thought, confused by the move he¡¯d never heard before. It would be hard to teach a move he didn¡¯t even know about. ¡°One second, please.¡±

    Ethan lowered the phone and shot the now hovering Joyce and glare. ¡°Have you ever heard of the move Temper Flare?¡±

    ¡°I have.¡± Cynthia responded in Joyce¡¯s place, earning a dirty look from the Nurse in question. ¡°It¡¯s a fairly new move, powerful in the right circumstances.¡±

    She must have caught on to what the conversation was about, as she continued. ¡°I believe that you can do it.¡± Joyce nodded along with her assessment.

    While confident that he could teach the vast majority of moves with a little bit of practice, instruction, and lots of help from his memories, teaching a move he was completely unfamiliar with wasn¡¯t something he was comfortable with. It wasn¡¯t like he was ever trained in teaching pokemon, or even had any relation with pokemon a little more than a year ago. He was stumbling his way through his work, and he felt that Joyce and Cynthia both knew that as well. But, if they still thought he could do it, then maybe he could. They weren¡¯t the type to lie to him straight to his face.

    Still, he was waiting for the day where he wasn¡¯t able to do what others wanted. One day, he would fail in teaching a move and he didn¡¯t want that stain to go on his record. It was bound to happen, as even the best of the best failed every once in a while.

    Every once in a while wasn¡¯t going to be anytime soon for him, though.

    ¡°Sorry about that, I am unfamiliar with that move and don¡¯t feel comfortable with tutoring your pokemon in learning it.¡± Ethan said into the phone, earning slight frowns from both Joyce and Cynthia. Jocelyn still stood about, not comfortable enough to join in on the conversation. Happy, her Happiny, was gurgling and babbling in her arms, trying to get her attention with the smooth stone she held in her pouch.

    ¡°Oh. Okay then. How about Acrobatics?¡±

    Ethan smiled. ¡°I can do Acrobatics. I¡¯ve been meaning to teach one of my own pokemon that moves and I think it¡¯s about time they get into learning some more. A flying type move and a fire type move¡­ Is your pokemon of the Charizard line? Talonflame?¡±

    After a short laugh on the opposite end of the line, they responded. ¡°No, no, no. Not a flying type. Still, the move is good in many situations. I¡¯ll go ahead and fill out the form and get all the paperwork squared away.¡± After a short pause, they finished with, ¡°See you soon, Mr. Reed.¡± and hung up.

    Click

    Ethan looked at his phone in some confusion. ¡°I didn¡¯t even get their name.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re pretty knowledgeable about pokemon, Mr. Ree¡ª-Ethan. Naming pokemon based on their types like that.¡± Jocelyn said, breaking the silence with her attempt to be a part of the group. She most likely felt a little out of place, and he couldn¡¯t blame her. In due time, they would grow to be friends¡­ he hoped. It would just take some time, they had just met.

    ¡°Not as knowledgeable as some, but I think I do pretty well for myself. I think the only other fire and flying types are Oricorio, which is from Alola, and some legendaries. While people that own legendary pokemon exist¡­¡± Ethan slid his eyes towards Tobias, who was cooking himself a meal over a newly built campfire with the help of his Pyroar. ¡°I think not listing them as potentials is better for my health.¡±

    Ethan then focused on the babbling baby in her arms once again. ¡°Maybe I can teach your Happiny a move or two when they get a little older? Surely when they evolve.¡±

    Jocelyn smiled and hefted the Happiny onto her hip. She sorted through her pocket and pulled out a small bell to dangle over the pokemon like a toy. Ethan wasn¡¯t the greatest of battlers back on Earth, but he knew his pokemon items! The bell in question was a Soothe Bell! He¡¯d used them many times leveling up pokemon to evolve so that he could breed them again. It looked identical to the icon shown in his games.

    ¡°A Soothe Bell? Why, I thought everyone didn¡¯t know about friendship evolutions. Starting early are we?¡± Ethan remarked with a teasing jab toward Cynthia, but both Joyce and Jocelyn froze with stilted smiles.

    Ethan wasn¡¯t alone in his observation of the Joy¡¯s, as Cynthia took in their sudden change in demeanor with a hawkish glare. ¡°It appears that I alone was unaware¡­ along with the rest of the world outside the Joy¡¯s.¡±

    ¡°Frick¡­¡± Joyce grimaced and held up a calming hand to the now panicking Jocelyn. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Jocelyn. This wasn¡¯t your fault. Ethan¡­ knows things.¡±

    ¡°Uhhh¡­ Sorry?¡± Ethan apologized questionably. ¡°I didn¡¯t know it was a secret. I just thought nobody knew.¡±

    ¡°Yes. I thought so as well.¡± Cynthia said. Ethan couldn¡¯t tell if she was disappointed or frustrated, but she definitely wasn¡¯t happy.

    Ethan cleared his throat to break up the building tension. ¡°Well, most baby pokemon evolve by friendship¡ªHappiny included.¡± Ethan shot Joyce a knowing look, and she narrowed her eyes in his direction, picking up on the fact that he obviously knew more. He was lying for them. He hoped that was enough to bail them out of the predicament he just put them in, as he was pretty sure that they were worried about their Chansey and Blissey monopoly. After all, Chansey evolved into Blissey by friendship, and they were very rare, even among the Joys. He would be surprised if they didn¡¯t know how Chansey evolved if they knew about Happiny and the smooth stone she carried in her pouch.

    Still, the awkward atmosphere remained. Seeing as his little deflection didn¡¯t seem to do the trick, he changed topics. ¡°I¡¯d ask for a Soothe Bell as well, but I don¡¯t think I want a Snorlax anytime soon. I don¡¯t even know how the bell works! How does a little bell increase your bond with your pokemon?¡±

    Joyce ignored him and looked Cynthia in the eyes. ¡°We¡¯ll talk about this later.¡±

    ¡°Yes, we will.¡± Cynthia stared back, unflinchingly with the look of an unhappy champion.

    Ethan looked at the two leaders, then to the nervous Jocelyn, and clapped his hands with fake cheer. ¡°Let¡¯s go eat a late lunch?¡±

 Chapter 73

    After a very tense¡ªand apparently ¡®bland¡¯ lunch, according to Cynthia¡ªEthan stood outside on his patio, saying his goodbyes to the Champion. She had her day cleared for the rocket transfer, but the life of The Champion didn¡¯t include wasting time hanging around on a ranch in the middle of nowhere.

    ¡°While I would say having you here has been a pleasure, I am afraid all you¡¯ve brought with you is stress and trauma.¡± Ethan said, hands in his pockets with a deadpan expression.

    Cynthia huffed as she tucked a lock of blonde hair behind her ear, then crossed her arms. ¡°Take care of yourself, and thanks for the theme music. I¡¯ll think I¡¯ll be using that for all my challenges from here on out.¡±

    While he was slightly peeved about the Porygon in his computer handing over her theme song without his permission, as they¡¯d had a pretty clear and cut conversation about respect not a week ago, he was willing to admit that it was kinda funny¡ªafter the fact. During lunch, she had explained that she had asked for it personally, and that it was meant to be a surprise. Joyce, who had been part of the psychic link when he originally shared his memories, remembered the traumatic moment Ethan stepped into her room in the games and had relayed the information. She promised that no other files were taken from him, but he¡¯d wait and see if that was actually true or not later on.

    Ethan winced for the future generations that heard that traumatic piano. ¡°Before you leave, can I meet your Garchomp? You put¡­¡±

    ¡°Her.¡± Cynthia filled in.

    ¡°You put her back into her pokeball quickly, so I didn¡¯t get to meet her.¡± Ethan finished, earning a slight smile and a nod.

    Ethan ran a finger over Shuckle¡¯s pokeball as they wandered down his patio stairs to a more open area. His berry bud had nearly fainted from fright upon seeing the terrifying visage of the strongest Garchomp in Sinnoh, and probably the world at large. It would take drastic measures to root out the ingrained fear.

    With a flick of her wrist, Cynthia released her starter from its Ultra Ball.

    As Garchomp materialized, Ethan got a much clearer look at, probably, the strongest pokemon he will ever get the chance to see up close. He wasn¡¯t sure about how large normal Garchomps were, but if they were anything like the seven or eight foot tall monstrosity in front of him, he would bet that they were at the top of the food chain in the wild. From what he remembered, they lived in mountains and caves¡­

    Cynthia stepped off to the side and gestured proudly at her dragon, a warm smile showing clearly on her upturned lips. ¡°This is Garchomp. Garchomp, this is Ethan.¡±

    Ethan felt a shiver run down his spine as Garchomp¡¯s gaze locked onto him, assessing, unblinking. This wasn¡¯t like any other pokemon he¡¯d seen before. She was a force of nature, and she carried itself like she knew it too¡­ But, he wasn¡¯t scared.

    Ethan could count on one hand the amount of times he¡¯d been afraid of pokemon, and all of them were from misunderstanding the pokemon in question or ignorance. The first time was when he¡¯d seen his first pokemon. The confusion, combined with being lost and afraid of his situation, made him frightened of it. It had been a Tympole in a small puddle, just going about its day.

    The second time he¡¯d ever been afraid was his first meeting with Ursaring. That was self explanatory. A wild Ursaring, plus her cubs, equals no.

    With a casualness that seemed to amuse the mighty dragon, going by how she leaned forward to get on his level, Ethan walked forward to stand right in front of Garchomp. He looked her up and down, then asked Cynthia a vital question before risking touching. ¡°Sand Veil or Rough Skin?¡±

    ¡°Both.¡± Cynthia answered. ¡°Training can do lots of things.¡±

    He looked over Garchomp¡¯s skin, and by her sleek and fierce appearance, he would assume he wouldn¡¯t hurt himself by touching. ¡°Can I touch you? Or will it hurt?¡± He asked.

    Instead of replying, Garchomp just took another step forward and pushed its chest and stomach into Ethan¡¯s outstretched hand. Unsurprisingly, she felt like sandpaper. It didn¡¯t hurt, but he had the feeling that it very much could if she wanted it too.

    ¡°Well, aren¡¯t you a frightening dragon!¡± Ethan teased as he gave Garchomp a pat on the stomach. ¡°I have a favor to ask of you¡­¡± He dropped his hand and took a step back to look her in the eyes. The pinnacle of dragons must have seen something on his face, or felt something in his weird empathy thing, as her eyes dilated into a serious glare and her formerly hunched posture disappeared.

    Cynthia took a step forward to stand beside her partner and lost her smile as she took in the changes of her pokemon¡¯s shift in mood.

    ¡°You are the strongest pokemon I might ever see, one that has been through countless battles and triumphed. Nobody else; no other pokemon or person knows what it feels like to be the starter and lifelong partner of Champion Cynthia. The champion who I believe to be the greatest of them all¡ªWhat it is like to be her ace. Cynthia raised you from an egg, and you have lived your entire life with her there by your side. Others will never know of that special bond that can never be broken. At least, not at the highest of levels. A bond that can change you into something more than your current self.¡±Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!

    Ethan paused and watched as Garchomp swiveled her gaze to Cynthia, who was gently rubbing her wrist where he assumed a mega stone was held beneath her cuffed sleeves. When Garchomp¡¯s eyes eventually returned to him, he had her full, undivided attention. ¡°My pokemon are inexperienced. Some of them are afraid, others do not know what it means to be truly strong. I am sure some of them hope to be strong, but they don¡¯t have any frame of reference for what that means. They think they know, but they do not. They don¡¯t know of the hardships that come with the goal of strength nor the pride and sense of accomplishment that follows overcoming the trails that block your rise. Even I do not know when it comes to battling, but I have lived long enough to understand that the path you¡¯ve both taken has not been smooth.¡±

    After swallowing the lump that was slowly growing in his throat, Ethan continued. ¡°One of my pokemon has the potential to be strong, but they¡¯re too terrified of others to ever possibly grow into their potential. I am afraid that they will forever be too tied down in their fear to ever be truly happy. They¡¯ll always be too afraid, too self-conscious, and it hurts me everytime I see him shrink away from others. I would like you to show them that the strong can be kind. That the strong do not exist to bully the weak. Will you do that for me? Before you go?¡±

    Without a second of hesitation, Garchomp took a step forward with an arm outstretched to hold Cynthia back and nodded, as if saying that she didn¡¯t get any input for her actions. Ethan let loose a shaky breath and turned around. He stared at Shuckle¡¯s pokeball as he ran his thumbs across its surface, knowing that his berry lover had most likely heard the conversation that had just taken place from within his pokeball. He raised the pokeball to his mouth and began to whisper. ¡°I have told you time and time again, that I would never put you in harm''s way. Yet, time and time again fear has taken hold over you. It is okay to be afraid; to be scared of others, but you¡¯re holding yourself back.¡±

    Ethan ignored the subtle shifting of the two behind him and continued talking to his friend. ¡°In the wild, Garchomps live where you do; in mountains and caves. They most likely attacked you, along with the many other pokemon that call those places their home. So, I understand. But, you aren¡¯t in the wild anymore, Shuckle. You are with me. I will protect you like I know that you would protect me. Be brave.¡±

    Ethan turned, put on his brave face, and gently lobbed Shuckle¡¯s pokeball right in between Garchomp and himself. Ethan, over the past few months, had returned and released his pokemon many times, but this time felt like it took ages for them to fully materialize.

    Shuckle appeared. His bright red shell and beige rings stood out of place among the vibrant green grass, brown dirt, and colorful autumn leaves billowing about around them. Yes, beige rings¡ªhis berry bud was growing up. Shuckle looked upwards, craning his neck to look at the enormous predator in front of him. From Ethan¡¯s vantage point, he couldn¡¯t see the expression his friend was making, but he could see the tremors causing his limbs to shake from fear.

    Yet, there was no sudden covering of blue. Shuckle did not withdraw into his shell to hide away. He stood there, looking at the strongest pokemon he may ever see, and spoke his name.

    ¡°Shu¡ªS¡ªShuckle.¡±

    Garchomp took another step forward, then slowly sat down on her haunches in front of the brave, yet weak, pokemon in front of her, and let loose a low rumble. Her eyes flicked to Ethan for but a moment, before focusing back on the red-shelled pokemon before her.

    ¡°Garchomp. Gar-Gar-Chomp, omp.¡± She reached forward with one of her arms, the ones that ended in wickedly sharp spikes, and ignored how Shuckle leaned away from her touch. Ever so gently, she ran one of the spikes along his yellow neck, as if caressing his cheek, and continued to speak to him in tender tones.

    Seconds passed by; maybe even minutes, Ethan wasn¡¯t sure. He stood there in a nervous trance watching in real time how Shuckle¡¯s fear gradually faded away. His hesitant, clipped replies and shaking faded, and was replaced by¡­ normalcy.

    Then, to his surprise, Shuckle turned around. On his face, he could see a very special smile.

    It was a smile he¡¯d never forget.

    This special smile wasn¡¯t just about the curve of lips; it was the glimpse of something deeper. It was the way it caused the world to be a little brighter, more colorful¡ªLike the way the sun lights up a room, soft and unguarded, carrying all the warmth of the first rays of morning sunlight. Or perhaps it was how it tilted ever so slightly, as though hiding a secret meant just for him. It involved watery eyes that crinkled at the corners, glinting with understanding, trust, and tenderness.

    This special smile would linger¡ªnot just in the moment, but in their memories¡ªan imprint of connection, emotion, and something so beautifully rare.

    Garchomp lowered her hand to the ground, right below one of Shuckle¡¯s holes, as Shuckle lifted his front half with a mighty push-up. A gentle trickle of Berry Juice flowed freely onto her fin, which she raised to her mouth filled with sharp, deadly, shake-like teeth.

    Garchomp gave her thanks with a rumble of her name, then instantly turned and stuck her head underneath Cynthia¡¯s legs, causing The Champion to release a very undignified ¡®eek!¡¯ as she was tossed onto the mighty dragon¡¯s back.

    Cynthia was attempting to situate herself and save some face as Garchomp gave Ethan a final soul-piercing look, and one understanding nod.

    He didn¡¯t know what to say. So, he didn¡¯t say anything. He raised a hand in goodbye as Garchomp took off running¡­ with Cynthia demanding to be let down. The dragon picked up speed, eventually leveling out and sticking her arms outwards, which lifted her off the ground into flight.

    Ethan idly bent down and picked up Shuckle, letting him rest in his arms as they watched a separate bond between pokemon and trainer show itself in the skies above. They must have moved Garchomp emotionally, as she was laughing at Cynthia¡¯s righteous indignation as she flew off into the distance.

    ¡°I love you, Shuckle.¡± Ethan said, once the Champion and dragon were both gone over the horizon.

    ¡°Shuuuu.¡±

    Ethan didn¡¯t need a translator to know the response.

 Chapter 74

    After Cynthia left, Ethan relaxed in his home for the rest of the night together with his pokemon. Joyce was staying with Jocelyn in the Pokemon Center for their last night together, before she left in the morning to go back to work in Eterna City.

    He did take a few walks around his ranch to make sure Tobias and the rockets were behaving themselves during the evening, but everything was fine and dandy. Jessie and James were arguing and bickering about where to plant the seeds he¡¯d given them for their own garden, while Meowth just went ahead and started planting seeds without their notice as they were too engrossed in their argument.

    Tobias was training with his Pyroar on the training field, which¡­ was very different from what Ethan had been doing with his own pokemon. Unlike Ethan, Tobias had his Pyroar doing short sprints like he¡¯d done once upon a time in highschool, long endurance blasts of flame, and reaction speed/accuracy tests by tossing targets into the air for her to blast. Ethan didn¡¯t watch for very long, but he got the gist of what he was doing. It was simple, probably something to pass the time and different than his usual training methods, but reliable on a sudden notice.

    After tucking in his pokemon¡ªseveral of whom were now bunking with Smeargle in the guest room, namely Emolga and Tinkatink¡ªEthan laid down in his own bed and thanked Arceus for the day not being a complete disaster. Many things could have gone wrong with the convergence of people at his ranch, but¡­ everything had worked out, somehow.

    His simple life of hanging out on his ranch with his pokemon was quickly coming to a close. With more people staying on the ranch, more work would need to be done. While he was pretty laid-back when it came to operating the day to day of his ranch, sooner or later it¡¯d become a proper business. Jessie and James could help with the transition¡­ but they were also Jessie and James. So, either it was going to somehow work itself out or be a complete disaster.

    He also needed to cater to his pokemon needs more closely. Tinkatink was just a baby, and he really needed to start early with some positive reinforcement¡ªYou know, getting her metal and finding out what she needed to thrive. His battlers would need to start training in earnest, which would be the hardest part of his days¡­ The whole Oddish sapling birth¡­

    Life was getting busy.

    ¡ª---------------------------------------

    The next morning Ethan rubbed his eyes as he sank down to the floor, back against the wall of his kitchen. Tinkatink was making a stink. Apparently, today was the day where she decided eating out of a wooden bowl was unacceptable. Oh, and that wooden utensils were sub-par; Her hammer would work better. The floor was covered in what remained of her breakfast, and Munchlax was making the shameful display of ¡®cleaning it up¡¯ with his mouth greedily licking the floorboards.

    Up on the table, Emolga was growing impatient waiting to be let outside to fly around with Chatot. Already, she was flapping her arms and yelling out, airing her grievances. Shuckle was upset about the ruined berry-breakfast, sulking in the corner, thinking his hard efforts of collecting the berries had all been wasted.

    Skiddo was outside, much to Emolga¡¯s displeasure, because she wanted to eat grass instead of the meal he had made for her. The meal which had been put back in the fridge for later, which was now suspiciously missing after Munchlax woke up and ¡®helped¡¯.

    Ethan opened his eyes, then side-eyed the living room where Pachirisu, Smeargle, and Ursaring¡ªwho had chosen today of all days to enjoy a meal with the rest of them¡ªate peacefully as they chatted. Pachrisu was being very well behaved, which wasn¡¯t too out of the norm, but still a nice sight to his troubling morning. Although, his tail was pretty ruffled and un-floofed, which was irregular. The two Teddi¡¯s who sat in the middle of the group mashed their plate of berries with their hands, playing with their food before sucking on their paws to get the juicy goodness into their mouth. They were making a little bit of a mess, but nothing he couldn¡¯t handle with two minutes of cleaning up.

    It was not a great start to the day.

    After another fifteen minutes wrangling everyone into order, Ethan went off for his first official day of work in a long while. Today was the start of Tobias¡¯ Pyroar¡¯s tutoring, and starting bright and early would let him get to know Pyroar more, allowing for a better and smoother training session.

    As Ethan opened the front door, which caused Chatot and Emolga to zoom past him right into freedom, he paused at the sight of Jocelyn. The sun was just rising over the forest, so Ethan wasn¡¯t expecting anyone else to be awake at this time of day. Jocelyn was nervously grabbing the hem of her nurse¡¯s skirt, and looked hesitant to speak.

    ¡°You okay? Did something happen?¡± He asked, growing concerned over her behavior.

    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    With a rapid wave away, Jocelyn eased his worries. ¡°No, no. I wasn¡¯t sure whether to knock¡­ Joyce had to leave during the night. There was an emergency at the center.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ I see. I¡¯ll give her a call later in the day.¡± Ethan waited a few seconds, but Jocelyn still stood at the steps of his home, wrinkling her clothes with a tight grip. ¡°Did you need something else? Breakfast maybe?¡±

    Jocelyn slid her eyes to the side, which in turn caused Ethan to peek around the side of his home to see what had her attention. Right there in the grass, Skiddo stood eerily still. Her eyes were locked onto Jocelyn as she chewed on the grass she was eating¡ªor maybe it was cud, as for the next thirty seconds he stood staring at the small goat, she never bent forward to take another chomp of greens, yet still chewed.

    Jocelyn took a step off to the side, which caused Skiddo¡¯s head to turn with the movement. Ethan, already tired with the events of the day, hopped down his stairs, walked up to the weird goat, then waved a hand in front of the lazy leafy glare. Instead of stopping the weird staredown, Skiddo meandered two feet to the left, out of the way of his outstretched hand, and continued her gazing.

    Ethan threw his hands up. He was done. ¡°Alright, I give up.¡± He turned to Jocelyn as he pointed down towards Skiddo. ¡°This is my Skiddo. She does weird things. Just¡­ ignore her for now.¡±

    ¡°So, she¡¯s not guarding your home?¡± The still slightly nervous Joy asked.

    ¡°No. She¡¯s not a guard goat, just a weird goat.¡± Ethan nudged Skiddo with his foot, but found that if Skiddo didn¡¯t want to be moved, then his half-hearted efforts would have no effect.

    ¡°Well¡­ Joyce left something for you at the pokemon center. She said that it¡¯s payment for taking photos of you and Emolga, if that means anything to you.¡±

    ¡°Oh, it means something to me alright.¡± Ethan scoffed. ¡°I¡¯ll stop by after doing the rounds and some tutoring¡ª¡±

    ¡°Actually, I think it¡¯s best if you get it now¡­¡± Jocelyn interrupted with some authority, causing Ethan¡¯s eyebrows to rise.

    Ethan straightened up, gestured down the cobblestone path, and said. ¡°Lead the way.¡±

    As they walked down the path towards the Pokemon Center in the early morning light, with a munching Skiddo on their heels, Ethan asked about what Jocelyn would like to do on a day to day basis. He wasn¡¯t familiar with the runnings of a Pokemon Center, and he absolutely had no clue about what she wanted to do when there was nobody to help.

    This topic seemed to ease some of Jocelyn¡¯s nervousness and agitation. ¡°I am hoping to work with my pokemon throughout the day and have them get used to what it¡¯s like. You know, like, safety drills? Mock emergencies?¡±

    Ethan nodded along, understanding the need for preparation. ¡°That sounds like a good plan. I assume you have other pokemon? I doubt you finished your journey with just Happy with you.¡±

    ¡°Happy is my newest pokemon.¡± Joyce said, a slight smile sprawling across her face. ¡°She¡¯ll be my Chansey when I am fully recognized as a Nurse Joy. I only managed to get three badges back in Kanto before I went back to learning about nursing, but I have a few friends with me.¡±

    Reaching into her uniform, Jocelyn pulled out a phone very similar to his own. After typing in her passcode and pulling up a photo app, she leaned over and began showing him pictures. The first one was of Jocelyn and a small fiery pony; A Ponyta. In the picture, Jocelyn was crouched and hugging the happy horse around the neck.

    She swiped, showing him a photo of her being princesses carried by a Machoke. Its bulging muscles and self-satisfied grin told him that it was a very jovial pokemon. In the photo, Jocelyn was laughing in the body-builder''s arms in front of an enormous wooden bridge. In the background, numerous trainers were lined up and battling as far as the eye could see.

    ¡°Flare and Chopper!¡± Jocelyn beamed with pride at the pictures of herself and her pokemon, only dropping the smile when she saw his questioning gaze. ¡°I named him when he was a Machop¡­¡±

    Hands held up in surrender at her daring frown, Ethan said. ¡°Not judging!¡±

    He followed Jocelyn into the Pokemon Center, stepping inside of it for the very first time. It was rustic, made of mostly local materials and concrete. The inside was very different from the Pokemon Center in Eterna City, as the Lobby here was notably smaller. It was akin to a hospital¡¯s emergency room on Earth but with fewer seats, if Ethan were to make a comparison. There weren¡¯t any PC¡¯s for people to use at their leisure either. The only mechanical items in view were the small tablet on the counter, and a weird vending machine looking contraption with a large screen and a receptacle for a pokeballs.

    ¡°That¡¯s a GTS¡± Jocelyn said, having caught his gaze lingering on the peculiar and out of place item. When his face only turned more confused, she elaborated. ¡°Global Trade System¡ªGTS. It¡¯s how you send pokemon from one place to another.¡±

    ¡°Oh?! I might be using that soon! There¡¯s some pokemon I¡¯ve been looking into.¡± Ethan said as Jocelyn basically dragged him behind the counter to keep him from goggling the GTS.

    Ethan stared through the small window with his hands held up along the door in the new room he was led into, eyes still roaming the magical transfer machine that could jumpstart many of his plans for the future.

    ¡°Ahem! Here is what Joyce left you.¡±

    Ethan spared a glance at what Jocelyn was holding, then looked back¡ªWith a doubletake that physically hurt his neck, Ethan beheld the familiar appearance of a pokemon egg. Unlike Emolga, Skiddo, and Tinkatink¡¯s egg, this egg was very uniform in its colors. The bottom half of the egg was a dark black¡ªand around a third of the way upwards, ending in a jagged line¡ªthe egg turned into a dull yellow. There were no other markings on the egg, just the two colors clashing.

    ¡°Uhh¡­¡± He didn¡¯t know what to say.

    Jocelyn strode forward two steps, hands outstretched, and placed the egg snugly into his arms. ¡°Pikachu had this egg last night. Joyce said you should have it.¡±

    Ethan looked at the egg, then to Jocelyn, then the egg, then Jocelyn, then the egg¡­

    As his brain short circuited, his mind replayed all of the strange events of recent hours. Pachirisu coming in late, his tail being ruffled during breakfast, Joyce staying the night, her minx of a Pikachu¡­

    ¡°PACHIRISU!!!¡± Ethan bellowed.

    Somewhere else on the ranch, a small electric rodent sneezed and felt a chill run down their spine.

 Chapter 75

    Whatever his weird empathy thing did, it was obviously working. Pachirisu must have felt his rising ire and need to ¡®talk¡¯, as the little squirrel was nowhere to be found. As Ethan stomped back to his home to drop off the new Pichu egg in his room, many of the nearby pokemon, some wild and some his own, shied away from him like he was on a warpath.

    He wasn¡¯t angry, but he was most definitely frustrated. It felt like as soon as one thing resolved in his chaotic life, another got thrown his way. Already, he was getting the feeling that he had too many pokemon. In an ideal world, Ethan would raise this Pichu and then find it a home¡­ The issue was that this Pichu was Pachirisu¡¯s, and he wouldn¡¯t separate them. There would be no way that one of his pokemon was going to be an absentee father. Not on his watch.

    After making sure the egg was comfortable, Ethan made his way to the training field and campground to meet up with Tobias and Pyroar. Hopefully, starting up on some tutoring and work would turn out relaxing. He could only hope so, as if the rest of the day stayed the same as his morning, then he was in for a world of hurt.

    Seeing that Tobias wasn¡¯t at the training field, Ethan made his way over to the campground and found Tobias making a meal over a freshly stoked campfire. He was sizzling some type of meat on a cast-iron skillet as Pyroar lounged next to him, patiently waiting for a snack.

    After taking a deep breath, Ethan raised a hand in greeting and spoke out as he approached. ¡°Good Morning, Tobias. You and Pyroar ready to get things started?¡±

    Pyroar stretched, shoving her paws forward and arching her back, revealing razor sharp claws that raked the dirt as she pushed herself up to stand. Tobias flicked one of the bacon-looking strips in her direction, which she snapped out of the air with practiced ease. ¡°I think we are.¡±

    ¡°Perfect.¡± Ethan sat down on a nearby log as both Tobias and Pyroar finished their meal. ¡°To make things easier for the both of us, I would like to ask some questions about Pyroar¡¯s capabilities and current moves. Does she by chance know the move Overheat?¡±

    Tobias picked off a bit of freshly sizzled meat as he answered. ¡°She does. Why?¡±

    ¡°Well, Overheat is a move that uses a pokemon¡¯s maximum effort into unleashing a devastating wave of fire. Heatwave, as a fire move, doesn¡¯t actually use any fire in its attack. Heatwave is a blast of superheated air, hot enough to leave burns. Knowing the difference between heat and flame will most likely be a big point of contention.¡± Ethan explained, earning curious looks from both Tobias and Pyroar.

    Seeing as they didn¡¯t seem to understand, Ethan tried to show an example. He scooted closer to the fire and held out a hand, feeling its warmth. Both trainer and pokemon watched him as they munched. ¡°Fire is a reaction¡ªa chemical, visible manifestation of intense heat stemming from combustion. Fire is always hot, creating heat, but heat is not caused only by fire.¡±

    Ethan raised his now warm sweaty hand and pointed to the sun. ¡°The sun is also fire, which creates heat¡ªHeat that warms the planet. When sunlight reaches the planet, it warms the surface, air, and water. Some places get more direct sunlight, which makes them hotter, like the equator.¡±

    Ethan continued his rambling. ¡°Seasons happen because the planet is tilted on its axis as it orbits the sun. During part of the year, one side of the Earth tilts toward the sun, getting more sunlight and making it summer. The other side tilts away, getting less sunlight, which makes it winter. The tilt causes spring and fall when the sunlight is more balanced. Sinnoh is experiencing fall, or autumn, right now because of this¡­¡±

    With but a glance towards Tobias and Pyroar, Ethan realized that he was severely straying from the original topic. ¡°Err, anyways¡­ The heat from the sun is the sunlight that bathes the world in its warm glow. But, you can create heat by friction, like rubbing your hands together quickly, or even vibration. I have the theory that Pyroar will use a mix of her inner fire energy and vibration from sound waves to use the move Heat Wave. Think of it as a large roar powered by her inner flame. She¡¯ll breath air so hot that it will scorch or sear her enemies.¡±

    Seeing as they both stared at him with wide and mildly shocked eyes, he didn¡¯t bother saying a single word. Ethan just shrugged. ¡°Figured understanding is step one.¡±

    Tobias slowly placed his skillet down next to him, then turned to face Ethan squarely. He stared at him with a tilted head and suitably impressed look. ¡°To be honest, I expected you to be some sort of hack. Maybe some publicity stunt for Cynthia.¡±

    This got a laugh out of him. ¡°Hah! Hold your judgement until I actually tutor the move. While I would love to say I am an extraordinary tutor of unparalleled standing, that would be a lie. To be frank, I am still very new. But! I wouldn¡¯t be teaching your pokemon if I didn¡¯t think I could do it. I¡¯ve tutored many moves and haven¡¯t failed yet!¡±

    With a loud clap that startled both Tobias and the mighty empress Pyroar, Ethan ended the conversation and stood up. He gestured toward the training field, eyes focused on Pyroar. ¡°Let''s see what you¡¯re capable of!¡±

    After making their way to the training field, Ethan had Pyroar showcase some of her moves. He was mostly looking at how she naturally used her fire moves. Since he himself didn¡¯t have any fire pokemon, with the only pokemon on his ranch capable of a fire move being Smeargle, this was a novel experience.

    Pyroar was a very well behaved and trained pokemon, willing to listen to his orders obediently and without question. As they worked their way up from the weakest fire moves she knew, Ethan took in her stance, breaths, the build-up time, and common locations from whence the flames came.

    Like most fire type pokemon, Ember was the weakest move Pyroar knew. As she went about showcasing it, Tobias himself gave some commentary. As he stoically watched on from beside Ethan, explaining which moves she gravitated towards, had outgrown, and which he believed she excelled at, Ethan took notes about his observations. It was a shame he didn¡¯t have a proper pen and paper, but his trusty note app on his phone worked well enough.

    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    After Ember came a physical move, Fire Fang. With powerful vicious charges, Pyroar surged forward and snapped her jaws into thin air. Wispy, near physical flame coated the entirety of her maw as she charged, leading towards a menacing show.

    Flamethrower, the staple fire move of many pokemon from back on Earth, was absolutely, positively, devastating. The blast of heated air slammed into him with physical force, causing a coat of sweat to form from only a few seconds of being near the outskirts of the powerful attack. Seeing the move in a real life scenario was frightening. A human being stood no chance within those flames for even a few seconds. It reminded him of those old war videos of a proper itemized flamethrower in action. Yet, unlike the videos from the past, this ray of flame didn¡¯t spread far and wide. It was a twirling and swirling beam of pure fire.

    Could one of his pokemon tank that hit? His immediate thoughts were ¡®Absolutely not.¡¯, but he¡¯d underestimated his friends quite a bit. They had¡­ a resilience to them; all pokemon did.

    The next move up for review was Overheat. Before Ethan could ask for a demonstration, Tobias grabbed his shoulder and yanked him back near the field of berry trees.

    After flicking the man a questioning raised brow, Tobias explained. ¡°You don¡¯t want to be anywhere near that move. Better to be safe than sorry.¡±

    As Ethan watched Pyroar get the signal from Tobias to go ahead, Pyroar took in a monstrous breath.

    Then, for the next few seconds, all Ethan could see was fire.

    The move Overheat unleashed a cataclysmic surge of fire, engulfing the battlefield in a sea of searing flames. The heat was overwhelming, warping the air as waves of fire rippled outward, seeking to consume everything in their path. The ground was instantly scorched black, cracks spread as molten embers danced through the air like furious fireflies. The sky above became painted in fiery hues of orange and red, with thick smoke curling upward in twisting columns. Each flame licked higher and higher, a chaotic mix of destruction and raw energy, as the intense brightness forced everything else into shadow. The roar of the fire mixed with the resonating roar of Pyroar, echoing in an unstoppable force of flame. One unleashed in a single, devastating burst of uncontrolled destruction.

    Unconsciously, Ethan took a step backwards as sticky beads of sudden sweat caused his long brown hair to stick to his face. For nearly a minute, Ethan took in the absolute hellscape before him with wide, disbelieving eyes. A firm shake was the only thing to knock him out of his stupified state. He tore his wide eyes away from the now panting Pyroar, creator of this destructive force, and looked into Tobias resolute and understanding eyes. ¡°She¡¯ll need a few minutes to recover.¡±

    Now, Ethan wasn¡¯t one for curses. Yet, a few slipped out. ¡°No fucking shit. If she didn¡¯t, I wouldn¡¯t know how to cope.¡±

    That actually made Tobias chuckle. He started to take off his red coat to spare himself from the heat as he spoke. ¡°You haven''t seen many strong pokemon before, have you?¡±

    ¡°Before I saw this, I would have said yes. I¡¯m sure Cynthia¡¯s Garchomp could unleash moves of this caliber, but I never saw any in action. My Ursaring is the strongest pokemon I¡¯ve seen use moves. But, she was building her home, not using them for battle. I did see her charge a Hyper Beam once¡­ It made my hair stand on end.¡±

    Tobias whistled, looking mildly impressed. He flicked his own long, now sticky hair out of his own face as he spoke and tossed his jacket over his shoulder. ¡°She¡¯s a strong one then. Hyper Beam can¡¯t be used by any old pokemon. You took her in?¡±

    ¡°That I did. She had a previous trainer that passed away. As you can probably tell, I am not much of a battler.¡± Ethan gestured around his very comfortable ranch. ¡°But I can provide a good home.¡±

    Just as Ethan finished speaking, an idea popped into his head. In the anime, Tobias was some random god-tier trainer and his pokemon were mostly unknown¡­ ¡°Speaking of, while you¡¯re here, feel free to let all your pokemon out to enjoy themselves.¡±

    Now, Tobias¡¯ impressed look morphed into an unenthusiastic frown. ¡°Tell me the names of the ones you think I have and we¡¯ll see.¡±

    It appeared that Tobias was trying to keep his secrets, but as Ethan had already told him he knew of some of his ¡®secret¡¯ pokemon, he was doing his due diligence to make sure he wasn¡¯t lying. It was a fair play, as he very much could have been lying to spy on his team. Plus, he was actually trying to spy, even if it was for his own curiosity. ¡°Pyroar, Darkrai, and Latios. Those are the three I am aware of.¡±

    Tobias tsk¡¯d, unhappy with the correct answers. Ethan then said once again his reasoning. ¡°Saw you fly in. That little faster than sound trick worked on everyone else on the ranch, but I have seen a few things in my life. I saw. And, I live in the forest. There was quite a commotion with the ghosts when a very powerful pokemon was taken from The Old Chateau.¡±

    The man sighed and slumped his shoulders. He looked disappointed at himself rather than at Ethan. With visible unease, Tobias reached for his pokeballs. The first one he unclipped was used to return the still panting and exhausted Pyroar. ¡°Take a break.¡±

    The two Ultra Balls he tossed out next, which were right next to three others on his belt, released the two aforementioned pokemon.

    Darkrai appeared in mid air, its bright cyan colored eye snapping in their direction. It was obviously confused at his release¡ªTense, having expected a battle. When that bright eye landed on Ethan, it widened. Then, very slowly, two thin pointed legs lowered to the ground. It sauntered right up to Ethan, then stared down at him with curiosity.

    ¡°Hello.¡± Ethan greeted the pokemon who could make his normal nightmares a day in the park. ¡°Mind if I take a picture?¡±

    Tobias literally balked at the request, but Darkrai gave him the go ahead with a minute shrug. If he were to guess, Darkrai most likely read his intentions because of his thingy-majig. Without giving Tobias any time to protest, Ethan snapped a photo with his phone and opened up the PocketDex.

    Darkrai - The Pitch-Black Pokemon: Darkrai is a shadowy Pokemon that lulls others into a deep sleep, where they are plagued by vivid and often frightening dreams. It is said to haunt moonlit nights, appearing silently to protect its territory. Despite its ominous reputation, Darkrai does not cause nightmares out of malice; its power to affect dreams is simply a defense mechanism. Some who encounter Darkrai report strange visions that linger even after waking, leaving them uncertain whether it was a warning or a glimpse of another world.

    Trainer Alert: Darkrai is an exceptionally rare Pok¨¦mon, often considered a myth by many. A confirmed sighting would be a monumental discovery, as it is said to appear only under very specific conditions, such as during lunar phenomena or in areas with strong emotional energy. The Pok¨¦mon League advises reporting any Darkrai encounters to local authorities for further investigation and documentation.

    ¡°Yeah, I''m not going to report this.¡± Ethan murmured.

    He tore his gaze away from the phone to find Darkrai hunched over with its face mere inches away from his own. Ethan decided to ignore the mythical pokemon that seemed a little too interested in him to find the Latios¡­ which was nowhere to be seen.

    Tobias helpfully said, ¡°Invisible. Pictures were a bad idea.¡±

    Ethan continued to look around, with Darkrai following him with but a foot in separation. His efforts were fruitless.

    ¡°Dang.¡±

 Chapter 76

    After searching around the area for another minute with Darkrai hovering behind him like some sort of Stand from that weird anime he saw once, Ethan called it quits. Latios was nowhere to be seen. Ethan didn¡¯t even know Latios could even turn invisible in the first place, and he doubted the legendary pokemon would slip up. If it didn¡¯t want to be found, then it wouldn¡¯t.

    A slightly warm breath rolled down his neck, causing Ethan to turn his head to look into the sharp blue eyes of Darkrai. Since they¡¯d first seen each other, Darkrai had latched onto him like he was some sort of magnet. Weird? Yes. Bothersome? Not really. ¡°Can I help you with something?¡±

    Darkrai slowly shook his head no, but made no attempts to separate himself from Ethan. Without breaking away from the sudden staring contest he found himself in, he spoke aloud to Tobias, who simply stood with crossed arms observing the interaction. ¡°Does he or she normally do this?¡±

    As Ethan questioned Darkai¡¯s gender, the pokemon in question blinked, causing him to win. He had a slight smile as Tobias answered. ¡°He doesn¡¯t get to meet many people. I have no clue.¡±

    ¡°Well, you should have him meet others more. Mythical pokemon or not, he¡¯s still a pokemon.¡± Ethan gave one final glance around looking for Latios, but still couldn¡¯t find a single shade of blue anywhere. ¡°I think it¡¯s best to start tutoring again tomorrow. Pyroar was pretty tired and there¡¯s no rush. She can rest up. Do you need anything before I go about my ranch business?¡±

    ¡°I think we¡¯ll explore a little bit. We can take some of the berries, right?¡± Tobias didn¡¯t seem too bothered about the end of today''s tutoring, which was a good sign in Ethan¡¯s mind.

    ¡°Feel free. You can have all your pokemon wander if you¡¯d like. See you later.¡± Ethan gave Tobias and Darkrai a wave as he left to go check on the rockets. He also needed to get Ursaring and ask her to fix up the training field with some of her ground moves.

    As he traveled across the blackened, cracked, and superheated dirt, the ground gave way as his feet disintegrated what was left beneath them. It felt like walking through snow¡­ if you ignored the warm heat and focused only on the soft crunch and subtle depressions he left in his wake.

    While he knew all along that pokemon were strong, today was the day he finally saw some of that in action. Yes, Tobias was probably one of the strongest trainers in the region, but even a pokemon half as powerful as Pyroar using Overheat would decimate anyone within its area of effect. Ursaring was the former alpha of this region of the forest¡­ Is she a match for Pyroar? If so, he still had a lot to learn.

    Maybe he¡¯d go see a high level battle in person¡­

    As Ethan walked up to the rocket¡¯s cottage, the door suddenly flung open with immense force and clanged against the cobblestone walls, revealing James being held by Jessie in a headlock as he struggled to escape outside. In his hands, he held a loose and empty burlap sack that Meowth pulled on in a futile attempt to help pull the man forward.

    ¡°Let me go! I¡¯m trying to get my bag, Jessie!¡± James garbled out as he threw a nasty elbow back to slam into Jessie¡¯s ribs.

    Jessie grunted, but the sudden assault only made her more angry, causing her to squeeze harder. ¡°The only bag you¡¯ll be getting is that one in your hands! You¡¯re the one who said to give this a shot you idiot! Don¡¯t go scooping up berries all willy-nilly!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m using this bag to get my bag! Think of the money!¡±

    ¡°Yeah! Think of all the money!¡± Meowth helpfully jumped in, still tugging and not making any headway into saving James from his predicament.

    ¡°Woooob-buffet!¡± The cry of Wobbuffet came from behind Jessie, just out of sight.

    It was at this time that James noticed Ethan standing at the gate to their small cottage¡¯s garden. James stilled, which caused Jessie to confusingly loosen up. As soon as her eyes found Ethan, she reddened up like a ripe tomato, mouth parting in shock. Probably from embarrassment and not from the strain of choking out her partner¡­ probably¡­

    Meowth still didn¡¯t notice him, but his sudden success at tugging James forward caused the feline to flash a wild grin and redouble his efforts.

    For a solid five seconds, Ethan stood there with a blank face¡­ then he felt a warm breath run down his neck again and turned to see Darkrai watching the commotion from right over his shoulder.

    He might have made a girly scream.

    Ethan foolishly assumed that Darkrai stayed back with Tobias, but the eerily silent pokemon had apparently been right on his heels the entire time. Now, he was in front of Team Rocket with a Darkrai attached to his hip.

    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

    With nothing to spare them of this awkward encounter, Ethan hastily made his escape plans. ¡°Feel free to collect some berries. I¡¯d like to sell some of them later. Good initiative James! Uh, just checking in! Bye!¡±

    With an about face that would make the US military proud, Ethan turned. Darkrai, smoothly and eerily slid in accordance to Ethan¡¯s movements, still behind him, out of sight, right beyond the corners of his peripheral vision. With hasty steps, Ethan fled the awkward encounter and went off to find Ursaring, and if he could, Pachirisu. They needed to talk.

    ¡ª-----------------------------------------------------------------

    Finding Ursaring and asking for her help in patching up the training field was easy, but finding Pachirisu took the better half of an hour. He only found out where he was because of his little spies.

    ¡°Odd!¡± One of the Oddish helpfully pointed one of its leaves toward his newly built barn and wiggled it, a sleepy smile adorning its face.

    ¡°Thank you very much, Oddish!¡± Ethan knelt and patted the living weed¡¯s head, earning a puff of Sweet Scent in return.

    Ethan fully opened the slightly ajar door to his new bar and wandered inside the darkened interior. The inside was dark and gloomy, as the wooden windows were all currently closed as the building wasn¡¯t currently in use. Ethan worked his way through the large building, looking down the rows of the barn doors. He stopped when he found only one was slightly ajar just like the entrance.

    Quietly, Ethan snuck forward. Once his right hand was firmly on the door and his left was his phone light at the ready, he swung it open with force and blocked the doorway. As Ethan shined his light inside, his set, disappointed face eased into¡­ confliction by what he saw. Inside, Pachirisu was lying down with his poofy and fluffy tail wrapped around himself and a bright ball of yellow. Said ball of yellow rested her head on his fluff like a pillow as they snoozed.

    Pikachu mumbled and yawned as she rolled and shoved herself deeper into his fluff, but Pachirisu blinked his bleary eyes toward the sudden source of light. Ethan saw in real time as realization dawned on his little squirrel''s face. His little hands came up in placation and horror was etched across his visage, but before he could utter a sound Ethan turned, took a few steps down the barn, and dialed a number on his phone.

    ¡°Ethan! Did you get my prese¡ª¡±

    ¡°You forgot your Pikachu.¡± Ethan said bluntly and to the point.

    After a second of silence, Joyce responded. ¡°No, no. That¡¯s a Pichu egg! Not a Pikachu! It¡¯s yours now!¡±

    Ethan let an audible sigh flow through to the other end of the line. ¡°I am well aware of what the egg is. Jocelyn told me. I mean that your fully grown minx is still here at my ranch sleeping around. Literally.¡±

    Within five seconds Ethan peered around the corner and snapped a photo of Pikachu snoozing and frustratingly batting at Pachirisu who was in a full panic trying to wake her up. He sent the photo to Joyce, who was currently releasing all of her pokemon judging by the sounds he could hear.

    Once Joyce obviously realized she¡¯d forgotten one of her pokemon here, she only had a single reply. ¡°Oops!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, ¡®oops¡¯.¡± Ethan sarcastically replied, his foot tapping the floor as he watched Pachirisu shake his ¡®partner¡¯ awake in a panic. ¡°I can watch her for a bit, or have Jocelyn take care of her.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll send Cleffy over soon to bring her back¡ª¡± A ding like some bell echoed through the speakers.¡±Sorry, Ethan! Gotta go!¡±

    *Click*

    Ethan shoved his phone in his pocket then looked down to Pachirisu who was slowly dragging a now awake, but still tired, Pikachu in front of him. With hands on his hips, Ethan spoke with authority. ¡°Pachirisu¡­ Are you ready to be a dad?¡±

    ¡°Pachi!?¡± His little squirrel looked taken aback, swiveling his head from Ethan to Pikachu, who was looking off to the side and failing at whistling¡ªShe was kinda just blowing air and a little bit of spit.

    With a deft swiftness, Ethan scooped up Pachirisu and Pikachu and carried them out of the barn. Pachirisu was frozen, shocked from the sudden parenthood revelation, while Pikachu just accepted the free ride in his arms without a care in the world.

    As Ethan entered his home, stepping over the small mess Tinkatink made with the numerous pots and pans, he headed straight for his bedroom. Once inside, he closed the door with the heel of his foot and placed both pokemon down onto his pillow. Pikachu let out a squeal of happiness and snuggled in to continue her sleep, and Pachirisu watched with dread as Ethan grabbed the bright yellow and black bottomed egg and placed it before him.

    ¡°You made this.¡±

    Pachirisu shook his head violently, hands waving radically as if saying ¡°I absolutely did not!¡±

    With an unimpressed stare, Ethan continued to watch Pachirisu plead his case. ¡°You will take care of this Pichu. I will help you, but you will take care of it.¡±

    Pachirisu continued pleading his case, adamant that he had no part to play in the creation of this sudden egg. So, Ethan decided to do his due diligence. He picked up Pachirisu and placed him in his lap, then started a story. ¡°There was once a Combee and a beautiful bunch of flowers¡­¡± ¡°... and then the Pidgey made an egg¡­¡± ¡°... and the baby pokemon was born.¡±

    By this time, Pachirisu was wailing on his legs, pleading for storytime to stop. His yellow cheeks were bright red from embarrassment from not wanting to have this talk.

    Once Ethan ended his storytime, he held up Pachirisu and looked him in the eyes. With a blank tone, he asked. ¡°So, are you going to continue to tell me that you had no part in this egg?¡±

    Pachirisu looked to the now sound asleep Pikachu, then to Ethan¡­ then shook his head no.

    ¡°That¡¯s what I thought. You¡¯ll be a good dad. I¡¯ll make sure of it.¡± Ethan placed Pachirisu down onto his lap and ran his fingers across his fluff. ¡°I¡¯m not mad. I just want you to be responsible.¡±

    ¡°Pa¡­¡± Pachirisu nodded sullenly.

    ¡°It¡¯ll be like having a little Emolga of your own¡­.¡±

    Ethan continued talking, comforting, and reassuring Pachirisu that everything was okay until Smeargle knocked on the door, showcasing a bouncy Cleffy ready to pick up Pikachu. Cleffy gave Ethan a lazy wave, hopped up onto his bed, sat down on Pikachu, then blipped out of existence.

    ¡­..

    Ethan turned his head, not finding any hint of Darkrai. ¡°I wonder where he went?¡±

 Chapter 77

    For the past few weeks, Ethan had been doing his best to connect to each of his pokemon to make sure that they had things to do, were living a fulfilled life, and otherwise generally happy with him as their trainer. As much as he¡¯d like to think that all of his pokemon would never leave him to find someone willing to facilitate their wants, it was always a possibility.

    Chatot, his first pokemon, was one of his priorities. When he captured Chatot, it wasn¡¯t out of some fateful meeting, nor a slowly growing connection. It was Ethan needing a pokemon to return to the forest, and Chatot was willing. That¡¯s not to say that Ethan didn¡¯t want her, as that couldn¡¯t be farther than the truth. He loved her as much as any of the others, but he felt that he owed her something more.

    That is why, he¡¯d been taking his evenings learning and improving. Not as a pokemon trainer, but as a singer.

    Just like on Earth, if you wanted to learn something, information was available on the internet. Ethan and Chatot were sitting at the kitchen table, each listening carefully to the instructions from one Julianne Harper, a retired coordinator who¡¯d taken to the internet to help those following in her footsteps.

    ¡°Now, you try!¡± The video finished with the red-haired, spectacled Julianne gesturing towards the camera with a winning smile.

    Ethan nudged Chatot with his elbow, signalling for her to give the singing exercise a try. Chatot settled herself on the table and started wagging her tail in sync with the tempo for the upcoming vocal exercise.

    ¡°? Do-Re-Me-Fa-So-La-Ti-Do! ? Ti-Do ? ? ?!¡± Chatot sang, or copied Julianne, her voice and all. She then looked at Ethan, waiting for him to take his turn with expectation.

    With only a single readying breath, Ethan followed suit.

    ¡°? Do-Re-Me-Fa-So-La-Ti-Do! ? Ti-Do! ? ? ?!¡±

    ¡°? Chaa-tooot!!! ?¡± Ethan¡¯s colorful singer cheered at his success, causing him to blush slightly from the praise.

    He¡¯d been getting better at singing lately. While he still wasn¡¯t great, he could confidently say he wasn¡¯t bad anymore. The difference from his time singing the National Anthem to Chatot along travels from Eterna City and now was worlds apart. His voice wasn¡¯t suited to the majority of the music on his phone, but he definitely had his niches.

    Chatot didn¡¯t have that issue. She was a cheater.

    During the pre-recorded video lessons, there were some tests for what genre suited you, describing your vocal tones and qualities. Chatot, by virtue of cheating, suited them all. These tests weren¡¯t the wacky, lame, and questionable tests like some of those he¡¯d seen from Earth¡ªThe ¡®What Power-Ranger are you!?¡¯ kind¡ªNo, these were well thought out and had valid explanations and reasonings from an expert.

    From his results, it was a mixed bag. He had a very controlled and melodic voice, with a bit of rasp. He threw his voice, leaning into a more powerful shouting type of singing with noticeable grit and rawness. It was also labeled as intense, and emotional. While he¡¯d never be singing any Frank Sinatra or Maroon 5, he could scream with the best of them. He didn¡¯t need a singer to tell him that. To him, these were good things. He just didn¡¯t fit into this world''s music.

    The music here was very different in some aspects, while the same in others. There were pop bands here, idols, and more relaxed acoustic-type-songs he¡¯d bet John Mayer would have a swell time with, but there weren¡¯t any pop-rock, grunge, metal, or any other genres relatively close to them.

    Chatot didn¡¯t seem to mind this world''s music, even choosing to sing along to one of the songs she must have heard in the past, but she very much liked the songs on his phone. If he was a judge, he¡¯d say Earth: 1. Poke-Earth: 0.

    After getting the vocal exercise out of the way, they both went with their evening ritual. Chatot picked a song that Ethan had to sing, and then he would pick a song for her to sing. Once in a while, one of his other pokemon wanted a turn, but their singing was akin to them saying their name to the tempo of the chosen song. Munchlax liked to sing, but he was often trying to snack and sing at the same time, which never ended well.

    Speaking of the muncher, he was always around and just hanging out. While he liked food, he was a little interested in everything all of his pokemon liked. He occasionally painted with Smeargle, even if it was him slapping his hands on a canvas like a child, sang with Chatot, collected and taste tested berries with Shuckle, and played tag and hide and go seek with Pachirisu and both Teddiursa. He hasn¡¯t had much interaction with Emolga, Tinkatink, nor Skiddo yet. Maybe once they were awake for more than half the day?

    Anyways, Chattot was a cheater. And, of course, Chatot knew what songs were his strong suit when it was her turn to pick a song. So, like any caring friend, she never picked any of them. Although, to her credit, she did pick some absolute BANGERS.

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯ll be comin¡¯ for your love, okay¡­

    Take, on, meeee!¡±

    ¡°Take on me!¡± She always had to join in.

    Ethan chuckled but ignored her antics. ¡°Take, me, oooonnn!¡±

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    ¡°Take on me!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll, beeee, goneee¡­ In a day or, TWOOOOOOOO!!!¡±

    Instantly, Chatot cringed and pretended to gag. Ethan playfully swatted her upside the head as she laughed at his completely failed attempt at the classic ¡®Take On Me¡¯ highnote.

    Nights like these were the real joy of his life. He liked working as a tutor, interacting with pokemon that weren¡¯t his own and learning about them. If only more people signed up for his services¡­

    At least life was¡­ good. He¡¯d do anything it took to keep things just the way they are. Having already lost one family, he couldn¡¯t bear to lose another.

    ¡ª--------------------------------------------------

    The next morning was thankfully not nearly as bad as the day before. Breakfast went off with only some minor hitches. The main one being Pachirisu and his egg being at the table. While some congratulated Pachirisu on his soon to be child, others picked on him and teased him.

    And you can bet that it was Chatot.

    Their rivalry wasn¡¯t only for battles. It had transcended that mere slice of life to everyday actions. Who could eat faster? Who cleaned up faster? Who could carry the most? Etc etc.

    He¡¯d let them be for now, but he¡¯d keep an eye on them in case it got truly out of hand.

    As Ethan opened his door and hopped down the steps heading out for the day''s tutoring session, a very curious sight was unfolding before him. Jessie was in front of his home, kneeling down and cooing at something in front of her. From his position, he couldn¡¯t see what had her attention, but a few steps revealed the mystery.

    For the first time since it had arrived, Lotad was wandering about the ranch. It gurgled and hit Jessie¡¯s hands with its nubby feet in happiness as Jessie played with it.

    ¡°I see you¡¯ve found a friend.¡± Ethan remarked with a warm smile.

    With shock, Jessie stood and abandoned the poor Lotad to his own whims. She stuck her nose into the air and hastily sniffed, as if she wasn¡¯t just caught red handed playing with the silly pokemon. ¡°I was just curious about it. That¡¯s all.¡±

    ¡°Looo!¡± The Lotad clambered onto her feet as she crossed her arms in an attempt to appear¡­ confident? Carefree? He wasn¡¯t sure.

    Ethan raised an eyebrow, then slowly looked down to the Lotad. ¡°You know it¡¯s okay to play with pokemon right? It¡¯s not like you need to keep up some sort of strong-woman front.¡±

    Before Jessie could respond, the Lotad spotted Ethan. It gurgled and actually sent out a stream of tiny bubbles out of its mouth that floated up into the sky as it eagerly waddled towards him with glee. Ethan swooped up the rubber feeling lily-pad duck and spun him around. ¡°Oh hoh hoh! Look at you exploring!¡± He said with his baby-speaking voice on full blast.

    Ethan set the Lotad on his head, making him a temporary hat as he turned to Jessie and gestured in the direction of the pond. ¡°How about we take this little guy back home.¡±

    She looked slightly uncomfortable, but nodded. Ethan took the lead back towards the pond as Jessie followed behind him. ¡°So, are you bored yet?¡± He asked as he peeked at her.

    She barked out a sharp laugh, probably from the sight of him wearing Lotad like a hat and the blunt, honest question. Ethan lived here alone with nothing for a year, he knew what boredom was like. His ranch was fun for a day or two for the average person, but quickly ran out of things to do.

    ¡°A little.¡± She answered.

    ¡°Haven¡¯t talked to Jocelyn about helping out yet? I know there aren¡¯t any pokemon in need of aid, but you could still get familiar with the in¡¯s and out¡¯s of working in a Pokemon Center.¡±

    Jessie once again looked uncomfortable, but was putting on a brave, confident front. It was easy to see through. ¡°I¡¯ll get around to it. James has been keeping me busy.¡±

    Speaking of James, Jessie looked off and nodded towards the berry fields where a bright blue head of hair could be seen bobbing back and forth. Tiny yips of encouragement from Growlie right on his heels. ¡°He¡¯s picking berries.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s fine. I would like to sell them sometime soon. I¡¯ll be honest, I don¡¯t actually know how much they go for. I planted these trees for survival, not for money.¡± Ethan paused, waiting to see Jessie¡¯s reaction. At first, she nodded in understanding, then the words finally registered and she did a double take. ¡°Survival?¡±

    ¡°Yup! Was lost for a year here in the forest. Made myself a little home as I waited for rescue. I didn¡¯t have any pokemon, so traveling and finding my way back to civilization was dangerous. This was two or three months ago I think.¡± Changing topics, Ethan then prodded into Jessie¡¯s past. ¡°You would know about survival. The foster care system can be brutal.¡±

    Ethan quickly found out that prodding into her past was a mistake.

    With heat and venom, Jessie flipped a one-eighty in mood. ¡°Shut your fucking mouth before I shut it for you.¡±

    Ethan stilled, slowly turning around to face Jessie as she pushed into his personal space, causing him to lean back. She looked him dead in the eyes, with hers showing anger and pain. ¡°You don¡¯t know me. You don¡¯t get to speak about my fucking life like that¡ªlike it¡¯s some little nugget of neat information to you. We aren¡¯t friends, you are a nobody who knows too much.¡±

    With a hasty step back and hands raised, Ethan profusely apologized. ¡°I am sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to¡ª¡±

    ¡°To what? Dangle information you should have no way of knowing about in front of my face?¡± She took another step into his personal space, then jabbed a finger into his chest. ¡°Never speak of my past, James¡¯, or Meowths again.¡±

    ¡°I apologize.¡±

    burp-burp-burp-burp-burp-burp-burp!

    A stream of much larger bubbles launched forward in a non concentrated beam, slamming into Jessie¡¯s face and chest. She shrieked as each of the bubbles popped loudly, like a snap of fingers, causing Jessie to back up and swat the air at the incoming attack.

    Lotad wiggled on the top of his head, a fierce unhappy frown marred his usually dopey face. His parted, frowny beak slowly closed, ceasing the attack of Bubble.

    Instantly, Ethan ran forward and knelt down toward Jessie, who had fallen on her ass in her hasty, surprised retreat. He tried to help her up and check her over, when she smacked his hand away. ¡°Stop! I¡¯m fine, go away!¡±

    Ethan took a step back, but only when he saw that she wasn¡¯t injured. She had some red spots like she¡¯d been pinched from where the bubbles popped, but nothing too serious. ¡°James! Come over here! Now!¡± He yelled, eyes never leaving her down and shaking form.

    Within moments, James came running, with Growlie was right on his heels. As James abandoned his sack of berries, kneeling down to check on Jessie, Ethan just stood there, not knowing what to do. After some hushed conversation, James helped Jessie stand and put an arm around her shoulder. James started to walk off back towards their cottage, completely ignoring him.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± Ethan said as they slowly walked off.

    Growlie whined, upset at the whole situation unfolding before him. Quickly, he snapped up the bag of berries into his maw and chased after them.

    ¡°Looo-Tad!¡± Lotad wiggled on his head, crooning out a cry of victory.

    ¡°I messed up.¡±

 Chapter 78

    ¡°Oh, lord¡­ I guess we know why you went on a little adventure.¡± Ethan murmured up to Lotad as he took in the sight of his surprisingly very full pond.

    It appeared that Tobias had readily taken his advice and had at least let one of his pokemon free on the ranch. Right there, on the surface of the water, an enormous eight foot tall pokemon tried its best to relax and enjoy itself. This pokemon had to be Tobias¡¯, as there was a zero percent chance that a Lapras of all things just happened to find its way to his small pond in the middle of a forest.

    The Lapras was gently slapping the top of the water with its flippers, cooing at the Feebas and Magikarp who sent curious nibbles towards the large, foreign pokemon. Sadly, his pond wasn¡¯t built to house such a monstrous sea creature. Lapras barely fit in between the jutting rock located in the center of the pond and the shore. It could swim in a circle around it, but wasn¡¯t able to do much else.

    Speaking of the rock, Krabby seemed to have met its match. The grumpy crab swatted and snipped at Lapras to seemingly no effect. It was visibly angry about this unhappy fact, judging by his foaming mouth and crazed eyes, but there wasn¡¯t much else the poor crab could do to defend his rock. In the end the grumpy crab just turned itself away and sulked with hunched pinchers.

    Ethan walked up to the pond, reached up, grabbed Lotad, then plopped them into the water, attracting the attention of the large Nessie look-alike. Lapras¡¯ wide emotive eyes looked him up and down as it turned in place to face him fully, head tilted slightly in curiosity.

    ¡°Laaaaaaa?¡±

    Slowly, Ethan raised his hands and cupped the Lapras¡¯ large head. A bright smile stretching across his face at the sight of what was basically a dinosaur. ¡°Well, hello there beautiful! Isn¡¯t this pond a little too small for you?¡±

    Lapras nodded rapidly, physically manhandling Ethan¡¯s own hands with the action as its flippers slapped the water with force, sending large splashes of water to soak him from head to toe.

    After about three seconds, Ethan stood there with his hands held outwards, his eyes closed, lips thinned, and his body soaked from head to toe. ¡°Okay, then. Didn¡¯t expect that.¡± With one solid swipe, he wiped the water off of his face. ¡°If you¡¯re able, you can expand the pond. You can go as far as the fence over there if you can manage it.¡± He pointed out about forty meters away towards the edge of the forest.

    Lapras craned its neck to look over its shoulder toward the boundary, then smiled with apparent cheer. With a powerful swat of its flippers, Lapras surged through the water to the opposite side of the pond, as it did so, it let loose a cheerful chirp and was suddenly coated in an aura of deep blue, signaling the use of a move. The move and aftereffects which Ethan couldn¡¯t make heads or tails of¡­ was it a buff?

    As he pondered the mystery move, another followed. Lapras¡¯ smile faded into a slight upturn of the lips as it focused and visibly built up energy. Wisps of earthy browns coalesced around the sea dino. Once built up to a satisfactory degree, said energy was sent forward into the water and the earth ahead. This time, the move was familiar. It was a move known to many for being terrible¡ªone so full of RNG that it wasn¡¯t worth using in normal circumstances¡­ A move that could cheese some wins if you wanted to brute forced battles back on Earth.

    Fissure.

    The Earth groaned and violently shook, sending Ethan onto his ass as the destructive move split the earth in two and ruined his footing. A jagged line straight towards the forest erupted forth, sending chunks of earth falling into the wide crevasse left behind. The mounds of broken earth tumbled downwards to race the surging water that was aiming to fill the freshly opened gap. The water level of the pond swiftly sank, and Ethan could see the Magikarp and Feebas struggling to stay in place.

    Before he could do anything about that, Lapras slammed the top of the wavy lowering water once more, another move coming to fruition. From the now open crevasse, dirty Muddy Water sloshed out, up, and straight into the air. Chunks of dirt and rock were hoisted out by the force of the move, creating a smooth interior where formerly jagged earth was held in place. Next, from out of Lapras¡¯ mouth, a torrent of water launched from out of its now open maw¡ªA Hydro Pump that never seemed to cease.

    Ethan, both Marill, Lotad, the three Feebas and Magikarp, and even Krabby, stared on in shock at the massive terraforming routine. Lapras didn¡¯t seem to notice any of their attention, instead just giddily launching water outwards to fill their new swimming spot.

    After about ten minutes, Ethan¡¯s circular twenty five foot pond was now much larger. Now, it was in the shape of an elongated tear, with the tip reaching out near the forest''s edge. Lapras wasted no time in swimming to its content in the now spacious pond, trilling out happy cries as it relished in its completed work.

    ¡°She¡¯s an excitable one. Is she yours?¡± An unfamiliar female voice sprang up from behind him, causing him to get up from the ground and hastily turn around as he patted his slowly drying clothes.

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    Today has been a day of unexpected things. Firstly, finding Lotad out and about, fumbling his words with Jessie, her getting attacked, finding a Lapras in his pond, having his pond terraformed into one much larger¡­ and now, a familiar but unfamiliar face stared at him with narrowed, amber eyes. Eyes that didn¡¯t seem friendly.

    In full uniform, with the staple teal hair, cap, and vest, an Officer Jenny stood with crossed arms.

    ¡°No, no¡­ Uh, can I help you?¡± Ethan asked, wary about why and how a police officer got to his ranch in the middle of the forest. He didn¡¯t have anything against the police, having had pretty normal interactions with them back on Earth, but he was aware that not every police officer should have their job. And one showing up on your land in the middle of nowhere usually wasn¡¯t a good sign.

    The Jenny uncrossed her arms and stifly nodded. ¡°I would hope so. I called you about tutoring one of my pokemon Acrobatics.¡±

    ¡°Oh?! Well, I don¡¯t think we actually agreed upon a price or time frame yet. I am actually in the middle of tutoring someone else¡¯s pokemon at the moment. You¡¯ve come at an awkward time¡ª¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s okay, I¡¯ll wait.¡± The Jenny cut him off with some forcefulness in her tone, which didn¡¯t give him any good vibes. Her¡­ demeanor wasn¡¯t that of a caring or interested individual.

    ¡°I am afraid I don¡¯t have a place for you to stay.¡± Ethan¡¯s eyes trailed down to the small purple cat-like Espurr standing in between the officer¡¯s legs. Its eyes shone with an iridescent light as it stared at him unblinkingly. ¡°The pokemon I am currently tutoring is meant to be confidential. I am afraid you¡¯ll have to come back at another agreed upon time.¡± Ethan replied, a bit testy. This was his place. She didn¡¯t get to determine whether she stays or not, he did.

    The hovering form of another pokemon glided through the meadow from behind Officer Jenny and the little, wide-eyed Espurr, Ethan tracked its movements as it stalked its way forward. Espurr was a very cute pokemon, and as a Psychic type had many advantages. It also had one very major disadvantage¡ªIt was weak to Dark Types.

    Within seconds, Darkrai was hovering over the shoulder of Jenny, his bright blue eyes staring into the side of her head as she stood there unaware. The Espurr kept its gaze locked onto Ethan, also oblivious to the legendary pokemon inches from its trainer.

    Obviously, Darkrai getting spotted wouldn¡¯t be a good thing. So, he needed to deal with this quickly.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to have to ask you to leave.¡± Ethan said as he took a step forward while pointing off into the forest, toward Eterna City.

    ¡°I¡¯d like to ask you some questioned before that, Mr. Reed.¡± Jenny looked him up and down, scrutinizing him from head to toe. ¡°Where were you six months ago? You¡¯re a ghost before that time.¡±

    Ethan stayed silent, and his bad vibes were now screaming that this Jenny wasn¡¯t here for some tutoring. She was here because of him. While he didn¡¯t mind sharing his past with those close to him or those that needed to know, some random police officer was not any of those people. ¡°Leave my property. This is your final warning.¡±

    The Jenny frowned, narrowed her eyes into a glare, then parted her mouth to reply, yet paused as her eyes roamed about the area. What was normally a ranch filled with the gentle buzz of pokemon was now deathly quiet. The wild Starly who sang and chirped as they feasted on his berries were perched in the branches, staring at Jenny with all of their focus. The Caterpies and Wurmples stopped their gentle gnawing. Krabby glared at Jenny from his rock, now no longer in the center of the pond. Lotad squared up by his side, beak tilted downwards in an unhappy frown. Lapras, who he''d just met, openly glared at Jenny with hostility¡­

    And Darkrai held his hands outwards, cupping Jenny¡¯s head, unbenounced to her, in readiness for violence.

    Jenny¡¯s eyes swiftly locked back onto Ethan, her feet widened and stance lowered slightly as Espurr took a few steps forward to stand before its trainer. ¡°Looks like we¡¯re having a battle, Larry.¡±

    Ethan flicked his gaze toward Ursaring¡¯s cave, where the mama bear stood at the entrance watching, calculating the need to join. Ethan slowly shook his head. ¡°You¡¯re an idiot. You should have just left.¡±

    The Jenny, police officer or not, wanted a battle. Too bad he was never good at those. ¡°Darkrai, Dark Void.¡±

    Ethan wasn¡¯t sure if Darkrai, who wasn¡¯t his pokemon, would listen to him, but he felt like he would. Without blinking, Ethan watched as Jenny¡¯s and Espurr¡¯s eyes widened at the name of the pokemon, before a pulsating sphere of purple and black expanded from Darkrai¡¯s hands, which were held on each side of Jenny¡¯s head. Instantly, Jenny dropped to the ground like a puppet whose strings had been cut. Espurr barely had enough time to turn around before another purple void sphere encapsulated the tiny feline in its entirety.

    Staring at their downed and out forms, Ethan sighed. He was going to get in trouble for this somehow, someway. Attacking a police officer wasn¡¯t something you just got away with.

    As he reached for his phone to give Looker a call, some of Jenny¡¯s pokeballs began to shake furiously. It was obvious that her other pokemon were fighting to get out to protect their trainer.

    ¡°Darkrai, be careful of those¡ªOh, nevermind.¡± Ethan started, before seeing the sheen of Psychic energy coat the pokeballs and hold them still. Darkrai¡¯s blue eyes flared with light as he held them closed.

    Without wasting any more time, Ethan dialed Looker. As the phone rang, Ethan waved down the ever watchful Oddish and Gloom who were making their way over towards him in a show of force. ¡°Sit around them. If they wake up or make any move, you blast em with some sleep powers. Got it?¡±

    ¡°Odd-odd!¡±

    ¡°Oddd!¡±

    ¡°Oddish!¡±

    ¡°Gloo!¡±

    The phone call connected as several of the Oddish plopped their butts down right next to Officer Jenny and Espurr.

    ¡°Looker speaking.¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­ So, this is Ethan.¡± He started lamely, but his uncertain tone must have given something away.

    ¡°I am aware, Mr. Reed. What seems to be the problem.¡±

    Ethan kicked some of the dirt near his feet as he looked into the sky, dreading to put what he did into words. ¡°Well, an Officer Jenny appeared at my ranch. She¡­ didn¡¯t have good vibes and refused to leave, opting for a battle. I used a legendary pokemon to put her and her pokemon to sleep. Said pokemon is also keeping her other pokeballs forcefully closed¡­¡±

    ¡°... oh.¡±

    Ethan winced. ¡°Yeah¡­¡±

    After a second of awkward silence, Looker spoke again. ¡°I¡¯ll be there in a minute.¡±

    Click

 Chapter 79

    True to his word, Looker did in fact show up in a singular minute. Ethan had been gently using his foot to hold back the ¡®kick¡¯em while they¡¯re down!¡¯ attitude of Lotad, who was currently clapping his beak and attempting to charge forward his downed prey.

    Ethan noticed the blip of Teleports from near his home, as he was waiting for them. Shortly after, a speed walking Looker and some others came into view. Alongside Looker, four menacing looking men in full black suits, with customary ¡®Men in Black¡¯ sunglasses, scanned the area with intense focus and alertness.

    Ethan didn¡¯t bother with a greeting, as he just pointed at the downed form of Officer Jenny and her Espurr. Darkrai was long gone, disappearing without a trace. It was obvious he didn¡¯t want to be around when Looker showed up, but weirdly, Officer Jenny''s pokeballs were still covered in a hue of Psychic energy.

    ¡°She just kinda showed up. Sneaked up behind me and wanted to stick around after I told her to leave. We didn¡¯t even make any plans yet.¡± Ethan rambled as the four men in suits each took a cardinal direction around himself and Looker, who was kneeling down and checking the officer over.

    After his inspection, Looker sighed and sadly shook his head as he rose. ¡°Jennifer Jenny. You should have listened.¡± He snapped his fingers, which fluidly called one of the suited men over to restrain Jennifer. The other three suits quickly shifted from a square lookout to a triangular pattern.

    Ethan, wholly out of his depth, continued his rambling. ¡°She signed up for a tutoring session, even though I didn¡¯t know it was her. We hadn¡¯t even made any plans yet, just kinda talked about it. I told her that I already had a customer and that she needed to leave. She didn¡¯t want too. Then, all the pokemon around must have felt my mood. Things got¡­ spooky. She decided a battle was in store, but I had Dar¡ªA pokemon put her to sleep. Also, watch your step. The Oddish are eyeing you.¡±

    Ethan shooed the Oddish, who were very impressively pretending to be weeds mere inches from Looker and Jennifer. The masquerading bundle of leaves each cracked open an eye, and slightly grumbled to his signal. They uprooted themselves then waddled into formation. Gloom crawled out of the nearby taller grasses, his form not well built to blend in.

    Looker stiffened when the Oddish moved, but gave them a nod as they put some distance between one another. ¡°You¡¯re not in trouble Mr. Reed.¡± Looker stuck a hand into his trenchcoat and pulled out a pack of cigarettes, before effortlessly flicking one into his mouth. With practiced motions, he sparked a fancy lighter and lit it.

    After a smooth drag, he nodded down at the Jenny, who was still unconscious sporting a frightened grimace. ¡°She, on the other hand¡­ She is in a massive amount of trouble.¡±

    The suit who bound Jenny laid her flat on her back, then grabbed one of the pokeballs near her waist and recalled the sleeping Espurr. As soon as Espurr was inside its ball, another pinkish purple hue of Psychic covered it. The suit looked around, tilting his sunglasses down to get a better look, but couldn¡¯t find who was responsible.

    ¡°She was warned not to look into you, by me personally. She decided to take matters into her own hands. I apologize for this morning''s event, Ethan. I was aware she had made plans to come here. I just¡­ didn¡¯t think she¡¯d just come over within a few days.¡± Looker took another drag of his cigarette, then looked to Ethan in askance.

    He waved the offer away. ¡°Why is she looking into me? I didn¡¯t do anything wrong.¡±

    ¡°Well.¡± Looker took a puff. ¡°She lucked into it. She¡¯s an investigator, a skilled one as a matter of fact. The case she was working on had to do with a woman known as Sird. A probable member of Galactic, but a known Rocket¡ªNot that she knew that at the time. She was working with the information you provided us, but wasn¡¯t told who gave the information to the department in the first place¡ªA very uncommon procedure.¡± He exhaled, blowing acrid smelling smoke forward in a single breath. ¡°Then, after Sird was fit to be released due to lack of evidence, she moved onto a small time graffiti spree. Someone¡¯s been plastering Galactic¡¯s insignia across buildings in orange paint. Your Smeargle showed up on a search because of his orange tail. She tried to look into your file, was stopped from restricted access, I got notified, and we had a talk¡­ Now we¡¯re here.¡±

    After a long sigh, he finished with. ¡°She isn''t as bad as she seems. From her point of view, she''d been stopped by her superiors for the past few months on her Sird case and then was stopped again. She assumed corruption. Truly, an unlucky event. We knew she made plans to come and visit, but we didn¡¯t know it was going to be so soon.¡± He ground out.

    Ethan watched as the one Alakazam Looker¡¯s group teleported here with strolled forward down the meadow toward Jennifer. Ethan nodded towards her. ¡°What¡¯s going to happen to her?¡±

    ¡°Well, she¡¯s fired. That¡¯s for sure. Her family will sweep most of it under the rug, but she¡¯s not working as an investigator anymore. When you¡¯re told by Interpol to stop doing something and don¡¯t listen¡­ Bad things happen.¡± Looker replied.

    While he didn¡¯t feel too bad about her losing her job over this, he didn¡¯t want someone who thought they had a lead to rot in prison just for looking into him. ¡°She¡¯s not going to rot in a cell or anything? No psychic mind wipe or something?¡±

    Looker simply shrugged. ¡°Not my jurisdiction. Nonetheless, I am sorry for the disturbance¡­ but, while I¡¯m here¡­ Do you happen to know a Sird Saque? You know, from your time back home?¡±

    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

    ¡°The name doesn''t immediately ring any bells.¡± Ethan paused, ¡°What do they look like? Anything else you can give me other than a name?¡±

    ¡°Tall, five-eleven. Female. Sharp, fierce, murderous gray eyes, purple hair, has a Banette, Persian, Staryu, and Darkrai. Worked as the commander for Team Rocket Three-Beasts alongside Carr Chakra and Orm Oka under Giovanni.¡±

    The suits surrounding them slowly turned their heads towards both him and Looker, judgment evident in their eyes. It seemed that these suits were out of the loop, surprised by the information he was receiving. He ignored them as he answered. ¡°I have never heard of any of them, other than Giovanni of course. Never heard of the Three-Beasts, or about anyone else with a Darkrai. Sorry, but I¡¯m of no help here.¡±

    ¡°Shame.¡± Looker finished his cigarette, stuffed the butt back into the package, then pulled out another. After lighting it, he asked another question. ¡°But you¡¯ve heard of Red?¡±

    ¡°Red? Like, the guy up on Mt. Silver?¡± Ethan questioned back, earning a stilling of the hand from Looker. His mouth was parted, aiming for a puff, but he had paused.

    ¡°Elaborate.¡± Looker commanded, voice firm.

    The suits surrounding them were no longer hiding their eavesdropping, and Ethan was feeling the pressure. ¡°Uhh. In the¡­ thing on my phone.¡± Looker nodded in understanding and hurriedly motioned for him to continue. ¡°He¡¯s up on Mt. Silver. Been up there for a long time or something. After you, uh, beat everyone, he is the final challenge up there. He has all three Kanto starters and a Pikachu. I forgot his other two pokemon¡­¡±

    ¡°That is very valuable information, Mr. Reed. Thank you for sharing. What about the Moltres?¡± Looker asked, cigarette ignored.

    ¡°Moltres? There¡¯s a Moltres on Mt. Silver?¡± Ethan blinked owlishly in confusion.

    ¡°Hmm. Forget I asked,¡± Looker seemed to have mentally restarted, as he continued smoking. ¡°Seems like we didn¡¯t get everything during that help you offered when we first met. We didn¡¯t get any of that Red information.¡±

    Ethan just shrugged as he used his foot to slide Lotad, who was inching towards Looker¡¯s shoes with curiosity, away. ¡°Not like I¡¯d know what you got and what you didn¡¯t. You didn¡¯t get the friendship evolution thing either. I found that out the hard way.¡±

    ¡°Ahh.¡± Looker smirked and laughed. ¡°Joyce wasn¡¯t happy about that was she?¡±

    ¡°No. She was most definitely not.¡± Ethan laughed back, the worries about the morning''s event fading away slightly with time and conversation.

    ¡°I¡¯ll let you get back to your day, Ethan. I¡¯d say it was nice to see you again, but I just finished up with all the Galactic work and now you¡¯ve given me more work with the information about Red. Next time, just invite me over for a drink.¡± Looker stashed his finished cigarette into its pack and snapped his fingers, causing the suits to gather up around the Alakazam.

    Ethan warmly waved at the smarty psychic, earning a simple nod of acknowledgement in response before the group blinked away with their prisoner.

    Now, alone once more, Ethan dropped to the ground and laid there on the ground. His eyes staring at the blue sky above as his breath hitched and lips quivered. His sweat slicked back, covered up by the splash of water he¡¯d been doused in beforehand, collected the grime of the ground in seconds. Ethan¡¯s nervous smile collapsed away, revealing the worried and scared visage of a man who hadn¡¯t wanted any of this to happen.

    It was one of those days. The bad ones.

    The lively sounds of his ranch hadn¡¯t returned. None of the pokemon around felt like making any sound, opting to be quiet in the wash of his feelings. He felt bad because they knew. It felt bad to feel bad and have others know when you didn¡¯t want them too.

    ¡°Tad?¡±

    Turning his head, Ethan came face to face with the small dopey lilypad. Lotad¡¯s eyes, which normally were lopsided and googly, had centered and were staring at him with concern.

    ¡°Looooooo.¡± Lotad crooned, voice sorrowful and confused.

    ¡°Go for a swim, Lotad. Best not to get too close.¡± Ethan whispered, before turning to look back at the sky.

    There¡¯d been some bad days here on the ranch. Like when Ralts had found his old wallet and brought out the photo of his mom. That had been one of them but, most of them didn¡¯t end up with what felt like a fight for his life being sprung upon him out of nowhere. Maybe the situation where that first group of customers came by and one of them had the smart idea to catch the Teddiursa, but this was violence directed towards him. That Jenny was prepared to throw down. A full on pokemon battle out of the blue because he had simply asked her to leave.

    Battling was still something he didn¡¯t want to do, but for his pokemon he¡¯d do it. He was making baby steps towards that goal, training with his pokemon every once in a while and making sure that they were happy and stimulated. But a real battle? A battle that wasn¡¯t for sport?

    He wasn¡¯t ready for that.

    As he watched the clouds go by for a few minutes, he processed his morning as best he could. Ever so slowly, the murmurs and goings of the ranch came back. The Starlys began chirping, the sounds of rocking waves ensued from behind as the water pokemon swam about, and Ursaring stopped her protective over-watch from her cave, re-entering it to be with her kids.

    Alongside the re-happenings of his ranch, the gentle steps of ruffled grass grew louder and louder. Eventually, the bright pink hair and white frills of Jocelyn Joy entered his view. She smothered down her skirt and quietly sat down beside him. ¡°You okay?¡±

    He shrugged, too emotionally drained to manage a fake response. ¡°Which one told you?¡± He asked.

    ¡°Chatot and Meowth. Mostly Meowth. Chatot needs to work on her own words.¡± Jocelyn replied calmly, non judgmental. She turned her body to look towards the extended pond, but didn¡¯t make any remarks about it and simply sat beside him.

    After another minute of silence, Ethan couldn¡¯t stand the stifling atmosphere. He sat up and began to stand, which must have been the signal Jocelyn had been waiting for. ¡°Joyce told me things before she left.¡± Ethan sighed and closed his eyes as she finished. ¡°I¡¯ve been filled in.¡±

    ¡°Good for you. Soon, the world will know. It¡¯s just a matter of time it seems like.¡± Ethan gestured off towards the smooshed grass where Jennifer Jenny had laid. ¡°I wonder how many reporters and crazies will show up once they learn about me.¡±

    ¡°Is that something you worry about?¡± Jocelyn asked.

    Ethan turned to look at the young Joy, finding that she was genuinely curious yet kept a professional air about her when asking. ¡°Not really.¡±

    She got up and gently dusted off her uniform before walking ahead, towards the exit of the meadow. ¡°Walk with me. Let¡¯s go to the Pokemon Center.¡±

    Jocelyn didn¡¯t wait for a response and kept on walking through the grass. Ethan took a moment to wave goodbye to the water pokemon¡ªespecially Lapras, the Oddish, and Gloom---before following after her.

 Chapter 80

    Ethan followed Jocelyn through the Pokemon Center as she weaved her way past empty and quiet rooms. Idly and admittedly depressed, he watched the small fluorescent lights on the ceiling pass by until Jocelyn stopped to fish out a keyring. She unlocked the simple, yet new wooden door before her and beckoned him in. ¡°In here. This won¡¯t take long.¡±

    There was a hint of something in her voice. He couldn¡¯t place it, but his immediate reaction was to be wary. Trusting her, Ethan entered the room, brushing past Jocelyn as she held the door open. The interior of the room caused the wariness to spike in intensity. There wasn¡¯t anything medically related inside the small, warmly lit room¡ªnot that he was here for anything medical related. No healing machines, no shelves filled with medicine or books. Just a long cushioned couch, a comfortable looking chair, and a small coffee table with a box of tissues placed upon it.

    His stomach twisted.

    He scanned the beige painted walls and the small framed pictures hung up upon them¡ªWarm colors, calm landscapes¡­ the kind of thing to put someone at ease.

    This wasn¡¯t a casual, out of the blue meeting or conversation. This was something she had planned. The room he stood in had a purpose, and it wasn¡¯t lost on him. Back on Earth, Ethan had taken many twists and turns in his education. Nursing, Computer Information Systems, Data Analytics¡­ in Nursing school, Psychology was a required course. He¡¯d seen this type of room before.

    This was a trap.

    Ethan took a step backwards and turned, finding Jocelyn finishing up with closing the door behind her. She gazed into his eyes with her shining blue eyes and a relaxed and inviting smile.

    ¡°I don¡¯t need this,¡± He said quickly, voice a tad sharper than intended.

    Something in her eyes let him know that she knew the jig was up. ¡°Nobody¡¯s forcing you to talk.¡± She said calmly, ¡°Just sit for a moment.¡±

    Ethan gestured around the room, his heart rate elevating. ¡°You planned this. Who¡¯s idea was it?¡±

    ¡°Does it matter? Are you looking to blame someone? I was asked to help you.¡± Jocelyn said calmly as she came forward and gently grabbed his shoulders to spin him around to face the room and not the exit. After, she slid by him and sat down in the chair, leaving the couch open and free.

    Ethan didn¡¯t move.

    ¡°I severely doubt a therapist coming to stay at my ranch was a coincidence.¡±

    Jocelyn just sat there, a smile plastered on her face and hand held out towards the couch.

    A few seconds passed by in silence as he stood there in a stand-off, emotions rolling and ebbing as he came to terms with this¡ªconnecting the dots. Joyce¡¯s ask for a Nurse Joy to stay at his ranch, Jocelyn being a therapist¡­ This reeked of someone plotting behind his back. Almost like someone was making plans for him without his input¡ªagain.

    ¡°Talking about it won¡¯t change anything.¡± He said, tone monotone, unmoving.

    Jocelyn continued to say nothing, just pointing and waiting for him to sit down as she watched him.

    Seeing as she wasn¡¯t moved, he changed tactics. ¡°I¡¯m not going to sit down, Jocelyn. Me sitting down is saying ¡®I need help¡¯.¡± Instead of walking towards the couch, he walked towards her. ¡°I don¡¯t want to need help. I don¡¯t want that. I don¡¯t need this.¡±

    When he reached her chair, she had to crane her neck to stare up at his looming form. Breathing became hard as he tried not to think about the past, but he needed to explain to her his reasoning¡­

    He tried, he really did. But, the day was already too much to bear. He wasn¡¯t very successful at controlling his emotions. His normally calm, friendly, somewhat carefree demeanor was gone, replaced by a rare bout of self-justified anger. Deception and people making decisions for him were things he could not stand. ¡°Not too long ago, I needed help and nobody was there to answer¡ªFOR A FUCKING YEAR!¡± With uncharacteristic aggression, Ethan kicked the small table holding the tissues, sending it crashing into the nearby wall. Jocelyn flinched and jerked from the sudden action, eyes spreading wide at the unexpected crash, but didn¡¯t bother turning to look at the mess he¡¯d made.

    ¡°You don¡¯t get to bring me here into this pre-prepared room and decide whether or not I need help. I decide if I need help!¡± He jabbed a finger towards her.

    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

    He focused so that his voice was no longer yelling, but still forceful. ¡°You don¡¯t know me, Joyce doesn¡¯t know me, Cynthia doesn¡¯t know me, nobody in this world¡ªHuman or pokemon, truly knows me. You think you do, yet you don¡¯t. This weird ability I have? That doesn¡¯t tell them who I am.¡±

    He took a deep breath, staring into the semi-shocked eyes of Jocelyn for a tense second, before stepping over the crumbled remains of the wooden coffee table to sit down on the couch. She parted her mouth to speak, but he raised a hand to stop her. ¡°Save it.¡± He snapped at her, then the energy he had but a moment ago completely drained. ¡°Let me explain to you what you don¡¯t know.¡±

    With steepled hands, elbows on his knees, he leaned forward. With two words, he showed one of the unknowable gaps that would forever be between them. ¡°I died.¡±

    Jocelyn blinked wildly, unprepared for the sudden statement. Ethan carried on, not bothering to wait for her to come to terms with what he had months ago.

    ¡°Yes, I died. It took me a while to figure it out, but before being dropped into this forest, lost, scared, and afraid, I was on a train. The very last thing I remember was a boom, an explosion. At that moment, everything I ever had, loved, wanted¡ªPeople, family, things, they were gone. My mother, gone. I will never see her again for the rest of my life, and I have to live with knowing that she thinks I am dead. My home, it is gone. I can never return to my warm bed, my inviting room, my home. My friends¡­ everything I had is gone. Not physically or emotionally, but by an untraversable distance.¡±

    ¡°The next moment I was here, not a minute away. My new home is built on the exact spot I arrived. Like any person, I tried to find my way to safety. It took me a single day to stumble across a pokemon. Something I had only ever seen in fiction¡ªa children''s cartoon. I didn¡¯t know what it was at first. I thought maybe it was a monster. So, I fled back to this clearing, starving, confused, scared, thirsty, and most of all alone.¡±

    By now, he couldn¡¯t even look at her. He stared at the beige walls behind her pink topped head instead. ¡°Eventually, I put two and two together. It took me a few days, but I figured out what world I was in. The world of Pokemon. One might think that would make things better, but being alone in a forest surrounded by wild beings who could snuff out your life with ease is more terrifying than being alone in a forest without them.¡±

    ¡°I strayed by myself through this forest looking for food so I wouldn¡¯t starve to death. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would know what starving felt like.¡± He swallowed, throat tight as he replayed his memories.

    ¡°Starving isn¡¯t just feeling hungry¡ªit¡¯s like your own body is eating itself from the inside out. At first, it¡¯s an ache, deep and gnawing, but after a while, it stops feeling like hunger and turns into something worse. Your limbs go weak, every movement feels like dragging yourself through mud, and your head swims like you''re underwater. Your stomach cramps until it feels like it¡¯s tying itself in knots, but the worst part? The exhaustion. It drains you and makes you feel like you¡¯re fading away, bit by bit, until you¡¯re not sure if you¡¯ll ever have the strength to get back up again.¡±

    Instead of explaining more about those dreaded memories¡ªthe horrible thoughts of personally fighting a pokemon to the death to eat them¡ªhe moved on. ¡°Eventually, I found a stream for water and berries to eat. Not wanting to risk myself in the forest alone, I planted the berry seeds that now make up my field. Months passed, and I bided my time for someone to help me. ¡®Next week, maybe tomorrow! Someone will help me.¡¯ I thought, yet every time, I was let down.¡±

    ¡°After so many let downs, so many disappointments, you begin to lose hope. Losing hope isn¡¯t like flipping a switch¡ªit¡¯s a slow, quiet unraveling. At first, you tell yourself things will get better, that you just have to hold on just a liiiiittle longer. But then, day after day, nothing changes. Absolutely nothing changes.¡± By now, he could feel the tears leaking from his eyes, but he needed to finish. ¡°The weight of it settles in your chest, heavier with each passing day, until even breathing feels like a chore. The things that used to matter¡ªlike living¡ªstart to feel distant. You stop dreaming, stop planning to make your situation better, stop caring. You wake up and wonder why you even bothered with making anything at all. And the scariest part, Jocelyn? It doesn¡¯t hurt the way you think it would. It just feels... empty. Like you¡¯ve already given up¡ªyou just haven¡¯t admitted it to yourself yet.¡±

    He moved his watery eyes to Jocelyn whose hands never managed to write anything in the small notebook she held. He rambled. ¡°I met a Geodude, and sometimes I wonder what its life is like. It helped me, when nobody else did. It made me a large rocky bowl to store water in. It¡¯s now Chatot¡¯s birdbath.¡±

    Ethan looked away again. ¡°I met Ursaring and thought that I was going to die. I met Pachirisu and fed him berries, asking him for help with digging holes for the trees to keep him around. My heart soared when he stayed around for an hour or two so I wouldn¡¯t be alone. Eventually, I settled into a rhythm while I waited. I survived, sought out any relationships I could have, spoke to pokemon, and waited¡­ and waited¡­ and waited¡­¡±

    Ethan wiped his blurry wet eyes and continued, voice thick as Jocelyn began to cry. ¡°I remember the winter. No jacket, coat, fire¡­ a wooden shack made of leaves, wood, and what little vines I could find to solidify it into one piece. The wracking shakes and biting cold¡ªthe holes in my clothes that let the whipping winds sear my skin with lances of frost¡ªThe only clothes I had to wear for months on end, the last reminder of what I used to have.¡±

    He stood as he mentally tried to compose himself, knowing he was a wreck. ¡°So, no. You don¡¯t know me. Words will not help me. There was a time for help, but sadly that time passed long ago. Thinking that you could talk me into feeling better is insulting, and thinking that you could make the decision that I needed help is even worse.¡±

    He walked to the door, opening it and stepping into the hallway. ¡°When you talk to Joyce, tell her that you guys fucked up. Find me if you need help, but otherwise, I don¡¯t want to speak to you.¡± He slammed the door, leaving a sobbing Jocelyn behind.

 Chapter 81

    As it was still the afternoon, Ethan had some time to clear his head before going to work with Pyroar. He¡­ felt bad about his outburst, but at the same time felt vindicated. Jocelyn didn¡¯t know what she was trying to dig up. She meant well, Ethan knew that somewhere, logically, deep down, but she doesn¡¯t get to force that situation on anyone. Nobody has that right. She was younger, not even in her twenties if he had to make a guess. So, she was learning too. They both would need some time to reflect on what happened.

    He swung his front door swung open, causing it to clang softly as Ethan released a shuddering sigh and closed his eyes. The clap of the laptop being closed caused him to open them, finding Smeargle and Chatot hanging out. Smeargle sat at the table, and Chatot was perched upon his head. The way they both looked at him caused his already abysmal mood to lower even further. They had pity and worry in their eyes as they failed to pretend to be okay and oblivious.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be okay¡­ Today hasn¡¯t been very good for me.¡± He threw them a smile, knowing they''d know it was fake. ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk about me, though. What have you guys been doing?¡± He asked as he joined them at the table.

    Smeargle crossed his eyes as he looked up towards Chatot, who gave a simple nod in return. Smeargle then opened the laptop and turned it towards Ethan. They were on the pokemon world equivalent of Youtube, and on the page was a paused video of the singer they¡¯ve been watching for tutorials. The title of the video was the announcement of a small singing competition. Looking down at the taskbar, he saw that the video app on the computer was open.

    Without a word, Ethan reached over, brought it up, and clicked play, earning more fidgets from his nervous pokemon. There, on full display, was a video made by Chatot and Smeargle. Ethan took a step back, then stood relaxed and carefully watched the video.

    Smeargle¡¯s beret was the only thing in the shot, obviously fiddling with the laptop before he backed away. Chatot then fluttered from off shot on to the top of his head as music began to play. The gentle strokes of a piano and the soft sounds of whipping wind set the tone of what was to come.

    ¡°? There were nights when the wind was so cold! ?¡±

    It¡¯s All Coming Back to Me Now, by Celine Dion. Ethan knew the song, obviously. It was on his phone in the first place. He paused the video and took a deep breath. As much as he¡¯d like to support Chatot¡¯s entry endeavors... ¡°Chatot,¡± He began. ¡°While this is a good idea and I think joining this competition is great, I think you should find your own voice first.¡±

    He gestured to the video with one hand and ran his other through his long brown hair. ¡°If you won with this video, would it be you winning? Or would it be the person whose voice you¡¯re using?¡±

    Chatot looks like she disagreed, her eyes giving away her displeasure. Ethan scooped her up into his arms and then started toward his bedroom. ¡°Smeargle, bring that laptop. Everyone knows the best acoustics are in the bathroom. If we¡¯re doing this, we¡¯re going to do it right.¡±

    His pretty bird¡¯s attitude shifted a complete 180¡ã once she looked at his face, spotting his mischievous smile. Smeargle wasted no time in following, using Psychic to carry the laptop as he caught up.

    Once they were all in the bathroom, Ethan did the singing warmup of ¡®Do Re Me¡¯ and his pokemon heard the acoustics of the room reverberate his voice. They both looked at him like he¡¯d done some type of magic, with wide eyes and smiles. He set Chatot onto his shoulder and poke his temple with a smirk. ¡°Wisdom!¡±

    ¡°Now! To keep you from cheating, we will sing a song that you have never heard before.¡± Ethan gestured for Smeargle to set up the laptop, and his painter jumped onto the task. ¡°I will sing a song, and then you will do your best to sing after me. Without using my voice. You will not mimic anyone, because you are finding your very own voice to use. When you think, there is a voice. Maybe you can¡¯t hear it, but it is there. That''s you. That¡¯s what I want to hear.¡±

    ¡°So, I shall sing you a song you¡¯ve never heard before, and then you follow. Ready?¡±

    Chatot nodded eagerly as she bent forward, watching his face with rapt attention. Ethan waited for Smeargle to finish setting up the laptop, earning a thumbs up, then started singing a song he sang once upon a time in elementary school.

    Now, an outside observer might think that Ethan was being nice, starting with a song he was taught in his youth. But, to ensure that Chatot wouldn¡¯t cheat using someone else''s voice, turning their words into his, he did something he hadn¡¯t done in a long time.

    He sang in a different language.

    Words even he didn¡¯t understand, but remembered from the ridiculous amount of repetition drilled into him in his formative years.

    ¡°? ? `O Kalakaua he inoa

    `O ka pua mae`ole i ka la

    Ka pua maila i ka mauna

    I ke kuahiwi o Mauna Kea ? ?¡±

    And of course, it was the opening to Lilo and Stitch.

    Ethan watched as Chatot¡¯s smile dropped to that of a playful sneer, having been caught before she could even commit the crime. She also tilted her head as she listened, trying to piece together what the heck he was saying.

    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    ? ? Ke ''amaila i Kilauea

    Malamalama i wahine kapu

    A ka luna o Uweka huna

    I ka pali kapu o Ka`auea ? ?

    It was about this time that Smeargle peaked out from behind the laptop, a singular raised brow high in the air as his mind started to understand that Ethan wasn¡¯t singing gibberish, he was speaking another language.

    ? ? Ea mai ke ali`i kia manu

    Ua wehi ka hulu o kamamo

    Ka pua nani a`o Hawai`i

    `O Kalakaua he inoa ? ?¡±

    Ethan paused, as his part from his childhood ended. His singing wasn¡¯t the best for this type of song, but there wasn¡¯t much to be done about that. He didn¡¯t remember any of the other parts. He looked at his pokemon, who looked at him like he¡¯d grown another head. ¡°Your turn.¡± He said to Chatot, challenging.

    ¡°Not happening.¡± Chatot said, with his voice.

    Ethan laughed, a genuine one at that. Smeargle laughed along with him at the zero hesitation from his colorful bird.

    After he calmed down from that much needed uplifting, he set Chatot down on the counter facing the mirror. They both looked into the mirror together, looking at themselves in the reflection. Ethan looked at himself. Really looked at himself. He wore his vest overtop a simple white shirt and had cargo pants on, his hair was much longer than it had been back on Earth. It trailed down to his shoulders with wavy breaks in between.

    He looked nothing like he did in the past. He was a new person.

    Chatot used this time of reflection to find some errant feathers that needed to be plucked. He helped her out with a slight smile for a few seconds, then waved Smeargle over to stand next to him. ¡°When you look in the mirror, what do you see?¡±

    Chatot made to look up, but Ethan gently pushed her music note forward, making her stare at him through the mirror. ¡°Does your reflection look like you? Is your reflection the best that it can be? Do you want to change something to the person in front of you?¡±

    He patted Chatot on the head with his right hand and gave Smeargle a pat with the left.

    Seeing as he sang a Disney song once already, he might as well sing another.

    ¡°? Now I see that if I were truly to be myself,

    I would break my family¡¯s heart. ?¡±

    Ethan didn¡¯t tear his gaze away from his own reflection. He didn¡¯t need to look, as he felt the stiffening of his pokemon through his hands.

    ¡°? Who is that guy I see, staring straight back at me?

    Why is my reflection someone I don¡¯t know?

    Somehow, I cannot hide who I am though I¡¯ve tried.

    When will my reflection show who I am inside? ?¡±

    ¡°? When will my reflection show who I am inside? ?¡±

    The three of them stood there staring at the mirror for a few seconds in silence, which was only broken by Ethan¡¯s sniff. ¡°I have lost a lot in my life, and my heart hurts. I do not want to change, but I have been forced too. The only thing left to change is my feelings. I am very sorry you guys have to feel those.¡±

    He finally tore his gaze away from himself and looked at Chatot and Smeargle. Chatot looked saddened, as if she didn¡¯t want to believe that her trainer was deeply troubled. Smeargle just stared at the ground, his tail clutched to his chest like a safety blanket.

    Then, Chatot shuffled, her stance strengthening. She looked at him through the mirror with a sharpened gaze, then spoke. She struggled at first, her mouth opening and closing as she found the words.

    Her first words with her own voice.

    ¡°You are not alone.¡±

    Her voice carried a natural melody, light and lilting, like a songbird greeting the morning. Each word danced with an effort-filled rhythm, warm and inviting, yet tinged with the unsteadiness of youth¡ªthat of a teen. There was also a softness to it, a gentle rise and fall that made the simple words feel like part of a tune, but yet she spoke with such emotion, her voice wavered like a note held just long enough, full of raw, unfiltered feeling.

    Ethan smiled, heart filled with pride. Pride that was felt through his reverse empathy to the recipient. ¡°There she is.¡±

    ¡ª-----------------------------------------------------

    Ethan, much happier than when he arrived, left his home after securing he had everything he needed for the day''s tutoring. He waved to the Oddish on his way down the steps, and one of them splurged out a poof of Sweet Scent in greeting. As he walked down the cobblestone path, he slowed and tilted his head in confusion.

    He had waved to the Oddish because one of them was awake¡­ but, how did he know one of them was awake?

    With a glance back, he watched the plume of sickly sweet pink coast to the ground.

    ¡°Must have been lucky.¡± He thought as he shrugged, picking up the pace towards the training field.

    Almost as if Tobias knew he¡¯d arrive at this time, Ethan caught him walking onto the training field with Pyroar as soon as he arrived. ¡°Ready to get things started?¡± He asked, earning a nod in greeting.

    ¡°We¡¯re ready. Feeling any better?¡± Tobias casually remarked, causing Ethan to sigh.

    ¡°I am feeling much better. Chatot said her first words¡ªreal words with her own voice. Today¡¯s been terrible, but that was a big ol white light in the darkness. So, Pyroar,¡± Ethan waited until he got the lion''s attention. ¡°Go ahead and give Heat Wave a go, right off the bat! I highly doubt you¡¯ll get it in one try, but it¡¯s good to see where we¡¯re starting from.¡±

    Pyroar turned to face away from them, incase of friendly fire, then surged forward about ten paces, twisting her body to skid on the dirt to a stop as she reared back her head to let out a devastating, ¡°ROAAAR!¡±

    It was loud, it was proud, but there wasn¡¯t any heat. Ethan clapped, ¡°Good first attempt!¡±

    ¡°Now!¡± Ethan shouted, ¡°Think about the feeling of when you use a fire move. That rolling heat you hold within yourself before you let loose. Try doing it again but with that feeling!¡±

    As Pyroar walked back to her starting position, Tobias asked a question. ¡°Are you using the knowledge you wrote down from when she showcased her moves?¡±

    Ethan spared him a quick glance, but returned his focus to Pyroar as he responded. ¡°Of course. What? It¡¯s like the number one rule of Tutoring and for Pokemon in general.¡±

    Tobias raised a brow in question, so Ethan cleared his throat, then said the words millions around Earth had heard a thousand times. ¡°You teach me and I¡¯ll teach you, Pokemon!¡±