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Isn’t a Pokemon adventure supposed to start out easy? Isn’t it all about carefully making your way through the tall grass, and being bewildered by the new Pokemon right outside of town?
Isn’t it not supposed to be about being chased by an angry horde of Rattata?
Onoda’s lungs are burning, and every breath scratches at his throat. He’s not sure how long he’s been running, only that he has to run faster.
The ground is trembling behind him. Even if they’re small individually, a whole pack can move the earth. Hiding behind a rock or a tree isn’t going to deter them, and Onoda enjoys having his limbs attached.
His Eevee, Kotori, is lagging behind. Her legs are short, and she isn’t designed for running either. He scoops her up and holds her tight, as he pushes the last of his strength into his legs.
Why this? Why now? What to do, what to do--
He rounds the corner, and sees the wall of black too late. Without a second to brace himself, he crashes into it headfirst and bounces back onto the ground. Strange, he still has all his teeth. It felt fleshy, not hard like a normal wall would.
The pack is coming closer. He can see them now, eyes red and teeth sharp- what could he do? Is it too late to run again? What--
A shadow towers over Onoda. He barely has time to breathe before a huge arm comes crashing down right in front of him. If the pack shifted the ground, this impact was more like an earthquake. The pack is blown away from the impact, and the few that remain grounded run for their lives. Forty Rattata or not, they couldn’t cover, let alone hope to defeat the owner of this massive arm.
Onoda clutches Kotori close to him. He can touch the arm with his toe-- if it crashed down a few centimeters closer…
His thoughts are interrupted by another shadow moving above him. That shape doesn’t look like a Pokemon, but a person.
A young boy with hair the color of the sea is rubbing his eyes on top of the wall. He yawns, and stretches his arms, as if he’s waking up from a long nap. After blinking a few times, he looks down at the extended arm and finally, at Onoda. “Did something happen?”
“Uh...uh… ah, um…” Onoda finally finds his voice, “Your Pokemon saved us.”
“Oh, did he?” The boy pats the Pokemon, and Onoda hears a low, happy grumble. That cry- a Snorlax! No wonder it was so huge.
“So what happened?”
Onoda looks at the ground sheepishly. “I accidentally stepped on a Rattata’s tail, and when it called for help, soon the whole pack was after me.” He lets out a sigh and slumps to the ground, “That was close, that was really close...”
Kotori is trembling in his arms. She’s shaking so much that Onoda looks down in concern-- and only then does he spot the patch of green fur that’s forming on her head. It’s a bright green, and completely out of place against her silver coat.
“That doesn’t look so good,” the boy notes.
“Oh, uh, It happens sometimes. Since Eevee’s genes are unstable, sometimes she gets like this.” Temperature spikes, abnormal patches of skin. She already has such an unusual fur color, and he’s worried that maybe that makes her fits worse. “She’ll be back to normal after a while. I think she’s just scared...” Kotori buries her head into the crook of his arms. It will pass. It will.
“I don’t know if I could be much help, but...” He lets out a high-pitched whistle, and from behind Snorlax’s foot comes a round Pokemon that Onoda instantly recognizes as a Chansey. When she stands in front of Eevee, the egg in her pouch begins to sparkle. A soft glow slowly envelopes Kotori, and the green clump of thin fur starts to recede.
“Healing Pulse,” Onoda murmurs.
“Oh, you recognized it. Are you a trainer too?”
He’s not ready to fight a battle anytime soon. “No! Well, maybe one day.”
“One day? Hm. Interesting. I’m Manami. Manami Sangaku.”
“Onoda Sakamichi.”
“Sakamichi, huh,” the boy says with wonder.
Onoda looks up at the boy eclipsing the sun. “What are you doing here?”
“This place has tall trees and good shade, and I need a nap.”
“Oh! Sorry for disturbing you!”
The boy motions with his hand, and a thin Pokemon rises up behind him. The beautiful jewels on her neck and that rich, deep blue could only belong a Dragonair. Onoda’s struck speechless with awe. A dragon, a real dragon, so early into his journey!
The Dragonair stretches her head up to the sky, and with Manami on its back, bends its head down towards Onoda. Manami’s so close that Onoda has to take a step back. He reaches a hand down and pats Kotori’s head. “She looks a lot stronger than the Caterpies the Bug Catchers tend to use. Are you really not a trainer?”
“I... I don’t know if I could be a trainer.”
“That’s a strange answer.”
“I have friends doing the gym challenge. They’re both strong! But I’m not sure if I could do the same thing…” Battling his way through routes and fighting everyone he meets? Naruko and Imaizumi would do just fine, but is that high-energy life really for him?
“Have you ever battled before?”
“Not really...”
“Then let’s have a battle!”
“No!” Onoda blurts out, “I mean, I just got started, and…”
“It’ll be fun. But it’s unfair if I use my whole team. I'll just use one, and Chansey can heal them both afterward, so you don’t have to worry about blacking out.”
When Manami whistles, a giant bird bursts out of the trees and sends the leaves into a frenzy when it lands. He has brilliant plumes on his head that catch the light, and large, powerful wings. A Pidgeot, and a strong one, too.
“I can’t battle against that!”
“You think so?”
He’s never fought a real battle, not with a complete stranger. Sure, he used to practice with Imaizumi and Naruko back in town, but those had all been mock battles. The only time he won against Imaizumi’s Snivy felt like pure luck. Real battles are broadcasted on TV, far away behind a pane of glass.
Kotori is struggling in his arms. She breaks free, and stands firmly in front of the Pidgeot. He’s twice her size, but she doesn’t move.
“Do you want to fight?”
She gives him a firm nod.
“Okay…” He takes out his PokeNav, and thumbs through the lists. He’s not sure what exactly Kotori knew-- he’s no Coordinator, and definitely not a trainer.
And he’s scared. Right down to his bones. Still, he can’t just abandon Kotori, who's so ready. Her determination compared to his...
With a deep breath, he steels his gaze and finds the bravery inside himself. “Kotori, let’s go.”
Usually, the quickest Pokemon moves first, but Manami doesn’t give Pidgeot any orders. In which case... “Sand Attack!”
Pidgeot recoils, shaking his head. A quick glance at the Pokenav shows that it wasn’t enough to do any damage, but it’s an opportunity! “Now… Baby Doll Eyes!”
Kotori flicks her tail and bats her eyes, looking as weak and demure as possible. Pidgeot catches sight of her, and his entire body slackens-- just enough for her to kick another round of dirt into his face.
Manami whistles. “Not bad.”
Pidgeot takes to the sky and opens his wings. One flap is enough to create a swirl of air strong enough to tear up the ground. Kotori stands her ground, but the gust passes by her at the last second.
The dirt! With the dirt in his eyes, it must be hard for Pidgeot to attack accurately. It doesn’t matter how strong he is, if he can’t hit Kotori, then all his strength is useless!
“Keep it up!” Onoda yells.
Kotori follows his command expertly-- kicking up dirt, and making herself look cute. It’s working! No matter how merciless the air was, Kotori didn’t even have to dodge.
Manami is just watching, not offering any commands. He looks around Onoda’s age, but his Pokemon have been trained to act independently. How incredible. To think that the first trainer he encountered would be so amazing!
“Now-- Swift!”
Kotori shakes her head, materializes star-shaped projectiles from the air, and sends them hurtling towards Pidgeot. They bounce off his feathers, but he hops back a little. It’s not enough damage, but if she can keep hitting him, then maybe she can chip his health down!
She attacks him once, twice, three times-- before he takes to the air again. He twists his eyes towards her, and his sharp gaze pins her in an instant. Even through the dirt, the signature deadly gaze of a Pidgeot acts true, and he locks onto her position. With a flap of his wings, he lets loose a burst of wind that cleaves through the grass.
It was hardly a contest. The blast of wind hits her straight in the chest and blows her back, hard. Onoda runs forward and manages to catch her before she hits the ground. Her eyes are unfocused and dizzy, but once Chansey does her work, Kotori is shaking the dust out of her fur. As soon as she sees Onoda’s eyes wide with concern, she gives him an enthusiastic “bui!” Even after such a fierce battle, she’s doing as well as ever. Onoda sighs in relief.
With his worry gone, there’s a bubble of excitement in his chest. First he just thinks it’s nervousness, but when the moments pass, the fear that usually grips him tight is nowhere to be found.
The Dragonair glides forward so Manami can hover right above Onoda. “That was fun! I didn’t expect you to be able to tell which moves are good right away. Are you sure you’ve never battled before?”
“I watch a lot of TV.”
“Huh. And she’s never battled before, either?”
“I wouldn’t know.” Onoda strokes the fur on Kotori‘s head, and she hums happily “I found her by my yard one day. I wasn’t sure what to think, since it wasn’t anywhere near the tall grass. But after a while, we’ve become good friends!”
“No training on the side?”
“Not like this! I’m a Pokefan! I collect things, like plushies, mats, and special edition accessories! Shipping from Hoenn’s a little pricey, but the quality of the goods are so worth it. I have to save up as much as possible.” All his allowance that most kids his age would spend on Potions and Pokeballs instead went into his large collection of Pokemon merch. He sees Manami’s stiff smile and asks, “Do you collect goods too?”
“Nope.”
“Ah, that’s okay too…” He can’t deny the ache of disappointment in his chest, but maybe he was being a little too hasty. The prospect of meeting another Pokefan, or even better, a fellow member of the Pokemon Fan Club got him too excited. “Either way, I don’t have much pyen in my savings, not after the last bulk order. I thought that on my journey, maybe I could get a job in the Pokemon labs working part time as a researcher. I don't know. The world’s a big place, and I'm not sure if I’m fit to be a trainer.”
“You think so?”
“What about you, Manami? You’re so strong.”
Manami gives him a grin so charming and carefree. “After I defeat the League, I’m going to climb Mount Silver.”
Mount Silver? Only the strongest trainers dared to go where the wild Pokemon can easily match Pokemon trained by the Gym Leaders. There are no checkpoints, and the roads could hardly be called roads. Onoda remembers seeing snippets in it in a nature documentary on TV, and how the snow is constant and merciless. “Why there?” It’s no place for a human being, much less a kid his age.
“The mountains! The climb! The peak!” Manami giddily spreads his arms wide, as if he’s embracing the sky, “It’s mostly untouched up there. Nobody wants to go there- it’s no place to live. It’s no place for people-- so I want to see what the view is like from the top. It would be amazing, wouldn’t it?”
“I-I guess so!”
Manami flops backwards, but his Dragonair quickly catches him with her body. “You didn’t say I shouldn’t go.”
“Well, it’s dangerous, but… you know you, I guess?”
Even though Manami’s been smiling this whole time, something about this smile seems much more genuine. “Are you going to take the Gym Challenge once you’re a trainer?”
“No way!” He’d be trumped in an instant!
“Hm. It’s hard to train wild Pokemon, but it’s even harder to train Pokemon that have been released. It’s hard for things that have been loved and abandoned to trust again, right? But you did it, Sakamichi!”
“I…” He looks at Kotori, and thinks of how she fought with him at first, refusing food and help. How it took many months of she hid out in the garden, and only after his persistence in trying to prove that he was kind and happy to help her did she start to open up. And that she always refused to go into a Pokeball. There was always a lingering thought in the back of his head-- that Eevees aren’t found in the wild-- that nagged at him. But he never gave it any ground. It wasn’t important.
It’s not like he could ever train her to be as amazing as that strong, majestic Pidgeot-- and where had he gone, anyway?
Onoda spots Manami’s Pidgeot up in the trees, and it looks like he’s struggling to swallow something. “Is he okay?” Onoda quietly asks.
“He’s just eating.”
“Eating what?”
“Magikarp.”
Onoda’s stomach flops. He’s known about Pokemon and their abilities, but he never really thought about their diet. Not all Pokemon would survive off berries and grass, would they? Still, the thought of it isn’t something that sits very well with him.
He’s so busy looking at the ground that he doesn’t notice how close Manami is to his face. When he looks up and sees nothing but blue eyes, Onoda lets out a yelp and hops back.
“You feel bad?”
Once Onoda regains his voice, he mumbles, “A little…”
“You’re probably better off sticking to grass and fairies, then.” Manami looks up at his Pidgeot, wrestling with the Magikarp. “Want to catch it?”
“I can’t!”
“You sure? It’s an easy catch.”
Once Pidgeot spits the Magikarp out, Onoda see how it wasn’t an exaggeration. Magikarps are known to survive just about anywhere, through filthy polluted water and clear streams, but this isn’t water. All it manages to do is gasp for air, as it flops towards a puddle.
“I’d put it in a Pokeball quick. It doesn’t look too good.”
“But I don’t have any Pokeballs!”
Manami just blinks at him. “Did you use them all up?”
“No, I… I haven’t bought any in years!”
Manami reaches into his bag and drops something. It nearly bounces onto the ground, but Onoda manages to catch it just in time.
Red and white metal gleams in the overhead light.
The Magikarp gasps for breath. It’s hopping with much less vigor than before. A spike of anxiety pierces Onoda’s spine. He doesn’t have much time! His hands are trembling. What if he misses? What if-- what if---
He remembers Naruko teaching him how to catch Pokemon. Weaken it, maybe put it to sleep or stun it, and then throw a Pokeball with all your might! Naruko and Imaizumi are so talented, but they trusted him and stuck by him. If they believed in him, then…
His fingers wrap around the ball. He throws his hand back, and then tosses it forward with all his might. It splits in midair, and a red light engulfs the Magikarp, pulling it into the ball. It shivers, and hits the ground with a clunk.
One shake.
Two shakes.
Three.
For a moment, he can’t believe it. Magikarp, even if it’s injured, is still wild and could burst out any moment! But the Pokeball isn’t moving.
He reaches a tentative hand out, and lightly touches it. It doesn’t break open. Finally, he closes his fingers around it. It wiggles slightly-- something is definitely inside.
“I… I did it,” he says, his voice thin with disbelief.
“See? You can do it if you try.”
Onoda wants to deny it, protest back-- but he can’t find the words to do so. The Pokeball in his hands and Kotori’s battle before are proof against it.
“I think you’d be a great trainer, Sakamichi! It’d love to battle you again someday. It would be really fun!”
Coming from someone as amazing as Manami, those are powerful words. There’s a small flush on Onoda’s cheeks that isn’t going away. Maybe… just maybe…
“I’m not sure if I can,” he admits, “but… maybe I could give it a try.”
Manami’s expression outshines the sun. “That’s great! You’ll be just fine, Sakamichi. Our names match, after all. Sangaku and Sakamichi.” Manami laughs lightly, “wouldn’t it be fun if we both made it to the League?”
Him… in the League. What a wild thought.
The sharp beep of a Pokenav cuts through the air, and Manami digs his out of his pocket. “It’s that time already. Well then,” He recalls Snorlax into its Pokeball, and sits up on Dragonair’s back, “I have to start heading out. You’re a lot of fun! Qualifications for the League are in two months. I guess I’ll see you there!”
Before Onoda can say anything, Dragonair is high up in the sky, and streaking through the clouds. Pidgeot takes one look at him, nods, and with a burst of wind, flies after his trainer.
Would Manami really wait for him? Manami seemed like a strange person, but that eagerness couldn’t have been a lie. He looks at Kotori, but she’s already been studying his expression. “You think we can do it?”
She nods her head.
The League seems like an impossible goal, especially for someone like him who’s shied away from battle all his life. But he made a promise to Manami. And Kotori’s more than capable. He can’t drag her behind, even if he knows she’d follow him. He swallows, fixes Magikarp’s Pokeball onto his belt, and dusts the dirt off his pants.
A rough start… but maybe he can do it.
Maybe.
There’s only one way to find out.