Chapter 2

“I’m Greta.” She said softly. The mere smile on her face was coming from pudency. Redwald could tell that she already regretted for asking the question. But still, who was this girl? Her face was not familiar at all.

“I am sorry...” Redwald said. Greta quickly corrected him by telling her name.

“Greta, I’m Greta.”

“...Greta.”

“We went to the same school before high school.” Greta said. “We weren’t in the same class but I’d see you in the dining hall everyday. But then, you suddenly left the school and I had no idea why you did it or what you did after that.”

“Oh, it must be that then.” Redwald responded. “Sorry, I didn’t make any friends at that school and had to leave before anything. I didn’t see it coming either.”

“Well, now is our chance.” Greta smiled again. She reached her hand to Redwald. Redwald took it and they shaked hands.

“I’m Redwald, by the way.”

“I know.”

The conversation was interrupted by Nidoran’s unexpectedly awkward cry. She needed something and Greta had to pay attention on her to find out what it was.

The old guy, Professor Oak was standing in front of the blackboard. Despite of his fatigue, he had an expression of positive energy on his face. If only his under eye bags were not that obvious, most of students could not tell if he was actually tired. Once the classroom remained in silence, Oak spoke in his authoritarian voice.

“Not even necessarily to mention that all you have come to this point by proving yourselves. First you sent your application letters. We received over a hundred of them. Then those who were chosen to take the test, the 16 of you made it up until this very point.”

He checked the classroom’s pulse. Everyone’s full attention was on him. “I know you already feel tired by now. However, being officially recognized as a Pokémon Trainer is not that simple and you have to prove yourself even more if you are capable of being one. Therefore my students, during your camp in the next weeks, you will be tested with three different tasks. If you pass all them all, you will be awarded with the license that you’ve been craving for.”

No one expected it to be easy after all. Everyone just nodded their heads and thought of the tasks or if they could prove themselves, whatever that would happen to mean.

“As you can guess, the first task takes place starting today.”

“Your Pokémon, each one of them, were brought to my place after going through some tough time.” Professor was talking. “Some had adaptation issues as a wild Pokémon, some had troubles with their former trainers, some were not healthy. But what they all have in common is that they were brought to life as well as brought here, both physically and psychologically. Now, those I think are ready to set off and accomplish something big with their life, I handed them over to you, hoping you could be a good company to them, providing their needs as they provide your needs.”

“Before going any further, I want you to know one thing for sure. A Pokémon can not show their true potency without the true trainer. The same applies for you, too. If you can’t reach out to your Pokémon, neither will your true potency will come to surface. What you need is to touch their hearts and let them trust you.”

“How is that going to happen?” A random student asked. Redwald could feel how naive he was. If somebody was going to fail in the end, this student was definitely one of them.

“That is the key you need to find out.” Professor Oak answered with a friendly smile on his face.

“Your first task is to build a bond between you and your Pokémon.” He said. “I will not limit you with a particular time. I know that some of my Pokémon are stubborn, but they will come along if you know what to do. I can’t ask you to build a bond between you and your Pokémon in a day or two. That is something to happen in time. It is something to happen naturally by itself. But what I need to see is that you have the spark to start that process.”

All along Greta had been holding Nidoran’s PokéBall in her hand. Now she was staring at it, thinking through. Could Nidoran ever be a partner for her?

“Please, take your day to spend some quality time with your Pokémon.” Professor Oak said and he walked away. The classroom remained in silence for a while after Professor left.

Greta fixed her white hat and stood up. She glanced at Redwald, said “I’ll see you later.” Redwald nodded his head and both left the building.

Redwald was sitting on a rock in the backyard, staring at the hills. His Pokémon was kept in his PokéBall in his pocket. Redwald was distracted by someone walking through him. He turned his back and saw Professor Oak’s Clefable coming. She had that friendly, motherly smile on her face as always.

“Clefable, what are you doing out here?” Redwald asked surprisedly. Clefable would barely leave Oak’s laboratory unless there was a fight between Pokémon in the garden. Then she would show up and try to stop them. If they insist and don’t listen, Clefable would just use Sing and all the Pokémon would fall asleep. The move Sing had a temporary effect on Pokémon that would put them in sleep long enough to calm them down. Redwald knew that the trainers would use that tactic in the battles oftenly.

Clefable sat next to Redwald and watched the hills with him. She put her tridactyle hand on Redwald’s knee. Redwald knew that Clefable wanted Redwald to free his mind. When he was a preschooler, he oftenly came to the laboratory to see his mother. Clefable would take care of him all the time. Redwald’s childhood hero was basically Clefable for being there for him every time he needed.

“I owe you so much, Clefable.” Redwald said. “You always watched my back, protected me. I never forget what you did for me all these years.”

Clefable got emotional. She had the same respect and love for Redwald as well. She took off Redwald’s hat and put her hands on his head. Clefable’s hands shone bright. That was a known therapy that Clefable were able to do. They would calm the nerves and let people feel relieved or even fall asleep in some cases. It was used as a common treatment method in facilities to cure insomnia and dipsomania.

“Thank you, Clefable.” Redwald said. He was much better now. Clefable handed over Redwald’s hat and winked at him.

“I will not disappoint you, Clefable.” Redwald said. “I will be there, holding the trophy of Kanto League, crying out your name to find me.”

Clefable made a sound that sounded like he was cheering for him. Then she walked away. Now Redwald had the courage and belief to build a bond with his beloved Pokémon. That was the time.

Redwald finally threw the PokéBall like he shot the gun to the eternity. The PokéBall had landed on the grasses and unlocked itself to let the Pokémon out. Eevee was asleep in his PokéBall. He slowly opened his eyes and checked around. The soft air and the fresh breeze reflected on his glorious fur. Those brown furs were in fact taken care carefully. They were bright and healthy. Redwald knew that Eevee by himself had no chance to survive in the wild world. He was an easy target by the wild Pokémon. Such a domestic Pokémon could never adopt the dirt and wild side of nature. He wondered if Eevee was born in the laboratory.

Redwald approached Eevee slowly. “My mom gave me some food this morning.” He said, taking off a can out of his bag. Then he put the can on the grasses. “If you want to.”

Eevee opened his right eye and checked on the can. Then he came closer to it slowly, smelled it. It was rather nice. He then licked it a little bit. It was enjoyable.

“Count on my mom.” Redwald said. “He is the best one when it comes to Pokémon food. We have a Meowth at our home. He is in love with my mom’s cooking.”

Eevee seemed like he could not care less about his mother. Instead he ate less than half of the can and went back to slacking off.

“You are hard to deal, you know that right?” Redwald said only half in jest. After Eevee’s no response at all, “Of course you do”, Redwald thought.

Some steps coming closer once again distracted Redwald. He turned his back and saw Blake Oak walking through. They both had a moment of glance, but both looked at different directions to prevent an awkward moment.

When Blake came closer, Redwald saw him holding his PokéBall. He thought Blake should have been going to have some “quality time”, as Professor claimed, with his Pokémon. Blake did not say anything, only walked through and disappeared.

That was the spark Redwald needed. He suddenly found a step to take in order to build the bond. He called Eevee back in his PokéBall and fastly walked through the backyard and reached in the laboratory. He knocked his mother’s office and came in.

Greta called her Nidoran out of the PokéBall. She was still shy to approach Greta. Greta took a can out of her pocket and put it on the grasses.

“That’s a recipe me and my parents use at our Day Care, Nidoran.” She said. “This one is particularly prepared for Poison type Pokémon. I think Professor let my parents know which Pokémon I was going to be given, because Mrs. Walker told me my parents left that for me already.”

Nidoran was just staring. Greta smiled sincerely and asked her to eat some of the food. Nidoran dug in. She seemed enjoying it.

“My parents are assertive about Pokémon Food. They believe no Pokémon ever can reject their food.” Greta said. “I have been learning how to prepare them. I am not as good as they are, but I will do my best for you.”

Nidoran was so lost in the can that Greta even wondered if Nidoran was hearing her at all. But once she was done with the can, she glared at her trainer with the same sincere smile on her face.

Greta sat next to her Pokémon. While watching the sky, she started a conversation. “I don’t know what you went through before me, Nidoran.” She said. “You probably had to face through bad experiences. I believe Professor would not give us random Pokémon just like that. They are the ones hard to come to surface. You must be one of them too. But no matter what it is, I am here for you. Always.”

“I didn’t have an easy childhood either, for your information.” She was sentimental now. “I was always forced to do things. I didn’t like anyone around me but I was scared of loneliness. Of course, until I realised loneliness is way better than what I had. During those tough times I learned that getting manipulated doesn’t get you anywhere. I was used, exploited, underastimated, hard done by. But when I turned the tables, I became a better person and did better things with and for my life. In the end, look where I am now.”

“We have time to talk through them all. But all I’m saying is that from now on, you are the most important thing for me. No matter what happens, all my decisions depend on you. I want you to trust in me. The respect and love will arise in time.”

But did Nidoran even listen to her?

Redwald was desperate. Eevee had no attention on Redwald and he had no idea how to get started to progress. Only his mother could reach him a hand. Fennel knew what was off with him even before Redwald said anything.

“Have a sit, Red.” Fennel said. Redwald calmly sat on the chair. Fennel felt the tense and knew that Redwald had too many doubts.

“How is your Eevee holding up?” She asked. Redwald calmly said, “He seems okay. But is he always careless about people around him?”

“He is, Red.” Fennel said. “Eevee went through tough times in the woods. He got almost killed. He lost his trust and respect for both people and Pokémon until Professor Oak gave him another chance to hold on.”

“Is this the reason Eevee doesn’t care about me?” Redwald asked as if it was an unbelievable reason.

“Let me tell you more about Eevee’s past.” Fennel said. “Maybe then, you will be able to touch Eevee’s heart. But you should remember that, doing this is not going to be easy at all.”

“This whole thing is not easy for me at all, mom.” Redwald responded. “I take what it gives. Just guide me.”

Humans

 * Redwald Walker
 * Greta Parker
 * Professor Oak
 * Fennel Walker
 * Blake Oak
 * Madison Dickens