"Hey, I'm Dan...." He said cautiously worried that the little ball of energy might start screaming again. Dan looked at the farmland below and studied it for a second. All the crops and others swishing in the wind, it was actually kind of pretty, a change from the city that's for sure. He looked back at the boy and said "What was that screaming about?"
Zvi laughed softly at Daniel's question as he looked down to the scene below, a pensive look in his eye. "I felt like yelling... So I did..." He then turned back to Daniel and smiled wide. "You should try it. You'll feel better."
As the Scatterbug flew back from a particularly well placed Tackle, Indigo grinned. Success, he'd finally gotten this annoying trainer off his back and showed her a thing or two! It felt great to finally have a win.
"Well, there's that. Where's your attitude now, huh?" He taunted. "Guess you and your dumb Scatterbug couldn't handle it. Do me a favor and get that thing out of my sight-" he stopped himself. This... This didn't feel that good anymore. It was strange. All he had wanted was a victory against another trainer, but it didn't feel like a victory at all. At least not anymore.
Margo was crying and her Scatterbug seemed quite hurt, not quite physically, but there was a certain melancholy in the way she so carefully curled herself up. They both refused to look at Indigo. But... he was the winner. Shouldn't that have meant that they had to acknowledge him?
But even when he thought back to it, how was it a victory, truly? Her Scatterbug had less experience, that was clear enough. No, it didn't feel like a win anymore. It wasn't anything to be proud of. He'd had Mimzy go all out on an opponent that was much weaker than she was. What did that make him?
A bully.
She was the one who kept bugging me for a battle! So why do I feel bad? It's not my fault she put that stupid, ugly Scatterbug out... But he knew, deep down, this wasn't what he truly wanted. A true victory would have been something he'd earned.
"Hey uh..." He looked away. "I got carried away. I'm... I didn't mean to." He wasn't sure what to do. "I just got mad because you were annoying me. Look, don't get all teary just because you lost. You were the one who took your Scatterbug out." He crossed his arms. "Why did you even take it out?" In the end, he was defensive because he felt terrible. But Indy was trying his hardest to parse through his feelings and guilt.
Hawka the Torchic F- lvl 18+1=19 Hero the Burmy M -lvl 16+1=17 Mimzy the Buneary F- 18+1=19
Items: small pearl ×1 White Herb x1 Kee Berry ×9 pokeball ×3 Cheri berry x6
Actions: battled margo. Heading to the pokemon center
Dan looked over back towards where the boy had been screaming
"Yea, maybe I should." He said, as he walked over to where the boy had been
Why not, right? He thought as he took a breath and yelled over the farmland.
Well that was stupid Dan thought as he turned back to the boy.
"Hey, Uh....I gotta go and train so....yea." He said. Dan couldn't think of anything else to say as he walked away. After getting far enough away to where Zvi couldn't hear him but could just barely see him, He pulled out his Pokeballs and released his Pokemon
"Okay guys, time to train, Let's start with a little warmup." Dan said. The training lasted 2 hours before him and his Pokemon got bored of the same training. "So, What now?" Dan asked as though his Pokemon understood him. "Let's just go back into town, See if Indy is still training." Dan said as he put his Pokemon back into the safety of their Pokeballs. He walked back passing Zbi, still standing in the place he was before, digging into the ground with his hands. Dan turned to him before passing him, and thought to himself Maybe he'll train with me tomorrow. No use in doing much else today.
"Hey, Do you wanna train Tomorrow?" Dan asked Zvi "I'm going back to town today but it would be nice to have a partner... Ya know makes it more interesting."
Dan sat in silence wondering if the boy had even heard him over the sound of digging.
Dan looked over back towards where the boy had been screaming
"Yea, maybe I should." He said, as he walked over to where the boy had been
Why not, right? He thought as he took a breath and yelled over the farmland.
Well that was stupid Dan thought as he turned back to the boy.
"Hey, Uh....I gotta go and train so....yea." He said. Dan couldn't think of anything else to say as he walked away...
Zvi watched as Daniel yelled, obviously lacking in commitment. At least he tried, he thought.
He didn't try to stop Daniel from leaving. He just said, "Okay, bye!" as Daniel walked away. Silently, he wished that Daniel's mood would improve over time.
When Daniel had gotten out of sight, Zvi shrugged, and called out one of his palls, Sudowoodo. "Hey buddy!" A nearby tree began to move. It was Sudowoodo. He'd been watching Zvi and Daniel the whole time. "Let's teach you how to use DIG! Here, watch me!"
And so, Zvi began digging. Soon after, Sudowoodo started following suit...
... He walked back passing Zvi, still standing in the place he was before, digging into the ground with his hands. Dan turned to him before passing him, and thought to himself Maybe he'll train with me tomorrow. No use in doing much else today.
"Hey, Do you wanna train Tomorrow?" Dan asked Zvi "I'm going back to town today but it would be nice to have a partner... Ya know makes it more interesting."
Dan sat in silence wondering if the boy had even heard him over the sound of digging.
Both Zvi and Sudowoodo noticed Daniel returning. Sudowoodo noticed first and stopped digging immediately. He froze, reclaiming his camouflage as a tree. The only thing that would give him away, would be the conspicuous hole in front of him. But it didn't seem like this trainer had noticed.
Zvi, on the other hand, felt no need to stop. There was something shiny in the ground, and he wanted to see what it was. He listened to Dan's request without looking away from his goal. He didn't stop when he answered either. "Sure, I should be around here somewhere."
Moments later, he pulled up a necklace. Someone probably dropped it a long time ago. He put it around his neck and vowed to himself, One day, I will get this back to its owner. He would wear that necklace every day for the rest of his life, until someone noticed it was theirs. Then he would give it back.
Margo heard Indy's gloating, but she didn't bother making a response to it, too busy nursing her own wounded ego as she stood from her spot on the ground. She heard something else in his voice now, possibly an apologetic tone, but she couldn't be sure if he was just trying to make himself feel better for what he did instead of being genuinely sorry. She turned to look at him, sniffling loudly and gave a half-hearted smile. "Congrats." Margo fled the scene after that, rushing back to the pokemon center that she had met Indy and Dan in to heal her pokemon as fast as she could. This time, after getting her pokemon back from the nurse, Margo left Poinsettia in her ball.
Again, she was left to brood in the pokemon center cafe, staring down at her long overdue library book from Nacrene. Margo stayed motionless in the cafe and munched on a granola bar, her eyes glancing towards the door every time it opened to make sure Indy hadn't followed her. It had been at least an hour and a half since they had their battle and it appeared as if he was avoiding her as much as she was avoiding him. She knew she would have to face him eventually and admit her mistakes to herself--it wasn't Indy's fault that he had trained his pokemon and they were stronger than her's, nor was it Indy's fault that she had let her emotions take over and she had to prove a point that Poinsettia wasn't just a.. gross bug.
Margo sighed and stood, replacing her book in her bag and trudging back towards the gym. It was a long walk earlier, and an even longer one now that she was walking at half speed. Eventually she got there and she had had time to contemplate; all sorts of things ran through her head and she had made peace with herself, hoping her pokemon would as well. Despite herself, she began to look around for Indy, pushing hair behind her ear self-consciously.
As Margo fled the scene without answering him at all, the pit in Indy's stomach grew heavier. He had really messed up now. He kicked at the dirt and looked around. Had anyone seen...? He wanted to punch himself. He shouldn't have cared if people saw him. Having done something terrible, he felt like he deserved the punishment.
Well, the pokemon need to get healed up... Margo had probably headed in that direction as well. So Indy made his way back to the center-- Margo was there, of course. They pretended not to notice each other while his pokemon were healed up. Afterwards he dashed back to the gym. He wasn't going to be hanging around Margo, that was for sure.
He hung around at the gym for the next two hours, training his pokemon somewhat, or attempting to. Yes, he was finally getting involved, but only as a distraction from his shame. Over the course of time, he calmed down considerably and began reflecting on the day. It had been all wrong, of course, but Indy grudgingly admitted it was rude to call anyone, person or pokemon, gross. And I wasn't a good winner...
As luck would have it, Margo had come to the gym. She looked uncertain, glancing around. Perhaps... she wanted to avoid him?
But he had to apologize, or else the guilt would have eaten him for the rest of the day.
"Margo," he greeted as he jogged over to her. "Hey. I know you probably don't want to see me but I..." He sighed. "I wanted to apologize... For everything." He didn't like her, but at this moment? Indigo hated himself more.
Dan had finished his walk back to the Pokemon center just in time to see Margo leave, he didn't bother her, thinking that she only came back to refresh her Pokemon's energy.
As Dan got his pokemon healed a mailman walked up to him "Hello, Are you Daniel Gareth?" He said with a chipper tone.
"Yea." Dan said
"This is for you then!" He said Dan thanked him as the man rushed off to get more deliveries. Leaving Dan there with a Note with his sister's name, Celia, on it.
The note didn't contain much, with small talk about how it was going and how weird it was without him among other things. But, one thing stood out to him, a passage that was short but it left a sting far worse than anything.
The passage described his mother, she'd been sick the months leading up to Dan's departure only thought to be a cold evolved into a much worse Illness, had gotten worse and worse the past few days.
Damn it... Dan thought, It's all he could think.
He grabbed his Pokeballs from the nurse and walked just to the Cities limits, a little worse for wear.
"Okay, guys we need to train, more. Now." Dan said to his Pokemon, he only decided to train to forget.
The training was short but intense with his pokemon almost forced to train and hit each other with all their strength. That was until one tackle hit a little too hard, hurting Rat severely.
Dan ran over as soon as he saw what happened and kneeled at his Injured Pokemon.
"Rat......I'm....." He couldn't fit the words out as his Pokemon passed out. He balled his other two and ran back to the Pokecenter to make sure Rat hadn't been too hurt. He gave all his Pokemon to the Nurse who looked shocked at the state of the Rattata.
As he waited he sat in the seat Margo had been in the first time they met, He wanted to cry but his pride wouldn't let him. All he could do was bury his head into the table Until they either finished healing his Pokemon or until Indy had come back.
Margo's eyes locked with Indy's for a moment as he jogged over to join her, casting her green eyes down to her shoes once he was in front of her. To her surprise, he had apologized for everything he had done. It meant a lot to her, especially now that it didn't sound nearly as patronizing as it did earlier. She glanced up at Indy, giving a small smile. "Thank you, that really means a lot to me, Indy." She paused for a moment, a hand wrapping around her elbow sheepishly. "I'm also sorry for how I acted. I'm not... usually like that. But Poinsettia is a very useful pokemon and she's always puts in such a good effort in her battles... I guess I just got upset on her behalf. After all, I don't think you can let someone trash talk your pokemon, right?" She let out a light-hearted chuckle before looking back up at Indy.
"Do you want to just start over?" It sounded cliche coming out of her mouth, like the lines in the movies and TV shows and even books, but right now it sounded like something that they could do--they only knew each other for less than a day anyways. Starting over sounded like a good option; they would both remember these experiences but maybe they could let each of themselves off the hook for this first day of their friendship.
"You're right. It was rude. I'm sorry about the battle from earlier too..." He thought back to the battle he'd had with Sydney yesterday. Despite the obvious advantage, he had lost. And even though Margo had technically lost, it was only because she had pulled out a pokemon with lesser experience. Even then though, she'd kept her ground using strategy. Even if brute force had won out, Indigo had to admire her quick thinking.
That was what he lacked, along with confidence, thought he didn't quite grasp the concepts yet.
"We can definitely start over. Hey, um, I've sort of got this idea... Yesterday, I faced a Spewpa, which is what your Scatterbug turns into." He took out his pokedex and flipped it on, going through a series of menus before settling on the image of a fuzzy Spewpa. "The guy I battled, Sydney, he used this crazy combination of String Shot and Stun Spore to slow my pokemon down and paralyze them." It still stung, talking about how someone had bested him, but it was getting easier nonetheless. "Anyways, I mean... I think you should look into it. It was a pretty good tactic, and he even beat my Torchic. Even though she had the advantage."
And so, training commenced. He felt renewed, much more motivated than before. With some guidance and target practice, not to mention the wide variety of opponents, Poinsettia was soon trapping pokemon in her String Shot and locking them into submission with Stun Spore. Margo was better at training than he was, however, no doubt a sign of her breeder family that Indigo had failed to notice. She even ended up giving him tips on how to better battle, and train. He learned that Hawka's favorite defensive stance was actually inefficient for her body, and they worked on correcting her position to one that her weak legs could handle. Mimzy stopped tripping during the speed of her Quick Attack, and Hero became much more efficient at recovering his cloak during battle.
"You don't train with your pokemon, Indigo..." Joan's words bounced around in his head. Was this what she had meant? He hadn't realized how many things were wrong with the way his team had fought. They fought well, but, battling was an art in itself, it seemed. It was a skill that required analysis from the trainer to see what their pokemon were doing wrong, to guide them. And he certainly hadn't been doing as much. Not that he would have admitted it, ever. And it stung to see Margo be so much better at it than he. He quelled his negative feelings enough that they could make it out of the gym in better spirits than they had had before.
After a grueling two hours, they returned to the pokemon center to see a rather defeated looking Dan sitting at a table in the cafe. Indigo's heart rate quickened. Was he okay? Had something happened on Leeman Trail? "Dan, hey..." He wasn't sure what to say. Indy was awful at comforting people. "You don't look so hot. Is everything alright?"
Hawka the Torchic F- lvl 19+1=20 Hero the Burmy M -lvl 18+1=19 Mimzy the Buneary F- 19+1=20
Items: small pearl ×1 White Herb x1 Kee Berry ×9 pokeball ×3 Cheri berry x6
Actions: trained for two hours with Margo. headed back to the pokemon center.
Dan looked up at his friend, and gave a smile "Yea." Dan said with a slight quiver to his voice.
As soon as he said that, the nurse who had taken his pokemon earlier called Dan's name.
He quickly went over and grabbed his Pokeballs from the nurse and gave a shrug instead of a verbal 'Thank you', He sat back down in his seat quickly and looked towards Margo "How'd it go? The training...I mean." Dan said, unable to get more out without his voice giving away the feeling of sadness that was already obvious, he stopped talking.
Honestly, He didn't care about the answer the two gave all he could think was: Mom. It wasn't but 1 minute more before Dan had completely broken down, A tear streamed down his face and his cheeks became red again as he whispered to Indy "Mom's getting worse." He knew Margo wouldn't understand what he meant, but he hoped Indy at least did. He needed someone to vent this off to.
"Geez.." Indigo whispered in a hushed tone, not having any idea of what to do. Say something, stupid.
"Is there anything we can do...?" He looked around. "Do you want to talk her? We could do a video call, or a regular phone call with our pokedexes. Maybe you should talk to her?" Indigo wasn't sure if it was a terrible suggestion or not, but it was the only thing he could think of at the present. "Maybe we can all talk to her. Show her how we're doing. I bet that would brighten her day."
Margo felt exhausted from the walk to the pokemon center after their training, trudging up with Indy to Dan's table. She gave a smile at the boy, feeling slightly embarrassed about her actions earlier. She supposed they should start over too.
"Training was good, I think we made a lot of progress." Margo answered Dan as he came back from the table, her voice trailing off as she noticed his change in demeanor from earlier. 'Had one of his pokemon gotten really hurt earlier like her's had at Mt. Leeman?' She began to wonder.
Her wondering didn't last too much longer though, as Dan began to cry silently, his face burning it up, possibly from holding his tears back. She glanced at Indy curiously as he mentioned something about his mom--she didn't quite catch about what but she assumed something might have happened to her. Indy seemed to be stepping up to the plate to help his friend, hurriedly looking about for answers to give him and repeating them aloud for Dan. They sounded like good options, all things considered.
She felt kind of awkward--perhaps that was selfish of her--but she still sat in her chair next to Indy, crossing her ankles and looking down at her hands. She debated asking if she should leave or ask them what was going on, but she didn't want to make Dan feel like he had to explain himself to her; she was still pretty much a stranger to him... a stranger with a horrible attitude, really. Even more selfish, this was making her think of her own family and if they perhaps were frantically trying to find ways to call her.
Dan sniffed as the last teardrop fell as he said in a hushed tone "Maybe, Mom doesn't have a Pokedex anymore though. We have a home phone still though." Dan said as he looked towards Margo and quickly away. "Maybe we can call her later. It's too late tonight." Dan said as he shuffled out of his chair again. He pulled out his Pokemon containing Rat and he handed it to Indy.
"Here. Take this, It's Rat. I'm sure he's not too happy with me right now." Dan said. As he made up his mind. "I'm going back out onto the trail and staying there overnight. I can't really be in a city. Not right now, anyway." Dan said as he shuffled away, towards the door. He didn't want to say much more.
"I get it if you two wanna stay here." Dan said.
The wilderness always helps. Dan thought he remembered all the nights he'd spend in the closest forest when he was back home. When everything seemed to be going wrong the forest always gave him comfort with the chirps and sounds of Pokemon surrounding him. This place was different, but it would be better than staying there.
Indigo observed as Dan retrieved his pokemon, not knowing what to say to his friend's distress. "Oh... Uh, you sure it's too late? It's like 7 PM..." His voice trailed off, not knowing what to say or do. He did, however, raise a brow when Dan handed him Rat and began to walk away.
"Heyo, wait. What do you mean by that, exactly? Why isn't Rat happy with you?" Indy did not feel quite comfortable taking the pokeball. Suppose Rat got out somehow-- or something. If the pokemon was angry with Dan, then wouldn't it burst out of it's ball to perhaps confront his trainer? Indy didn't want to be around when that happened. He was sure that Dan's pokemon were well behaved, but Indy was also an anxious person, no matter how laid back he seemed. Not just Rat, but what if something happened to Dan? Sleeping on the trail... Aren't there a lot of wild pokemon there? He might need his pokemon. They were newbies, after all.
"Shouldn't you like... I dunno, talk things out with your pokemon? I mean just avoiding Rat isn't going to do anything. When Hawka was upset with me-- I mean she gets mad at me all the time. But we usually resolve it." Feeling kind of like a jerk, Indy handed the pokeball back to Dan. "Sorry but I don't really, uh, feel comfortable with the idea of taking Rat... And I know you feel like Rat is upset, but I'm sure you guys can work it out. Plus, if you think about it, Rat doesn't know who he's actually with when he's inside the pokeball, so he won't know he's with you. Until you sort things out, right?" Trying to end on a positive note, Indy shrugged sheepishly. "Sorry again, but if you're gonna be all the way on the trail, if anything happens, I think you should have your pokemon." He paused, searching for more words.
Feeling torn, going with Dan was Indigo's first choice naturally, but the Trail was frightening. After all, someone as capable as Margo hadn't been able to go very far. Indy was sure he himself stood no chance, especially at night. Still, admitting it was difficult.
"I think I'll be heading out to Quiet Road. I just wanted to check something out." That Vivillion... His battle with Jack was soon. He would need that pokemon...
Margaret felt awkward as she continually shifted in her chair while Dan cried, feeling like the creaks from the chair were only making everything worse. Instead, she decided maybe she should leave the two be for the time being. After all, Margo wouldn't really want them around if she was crying over something about her family that they hadn't yet learned. "Excuse me, I think I should hand over my pokemon to be healed." Margo hurriedly left the two boys at the table and jumped towards the nurse's counter, handing over her pokeballs with a pursed lip smile.
She found other things to occupy her time, only casually glancing at Indy and Dan to check the status of their affairs. Once she was given her pokeballs back, Margo giving a polite smile in return, Dan looked like he was about ready to run out of the pokemon center and never look back. Margo returned to their table, sitting down and noticing Indy looking rather frantic about the pokeball in his hand, giving it back to Dan before seeming to leave himself.
"Well... Goodnight! I'll see you guys tomorrow?" She called after the two boys, unsure of whether they would see her here tomorrow purposefully. She knew Indy had a battle scheduled tomorrow so maybe she can tag along with him after said battle. She had a feeling she was like an annoying little sister, but she pushed her feelings aside and instead pulled her backpack in front of her and retrieved her book she had been reading before she met Indy and Dan.
She'd finish a couple chapters and head off to bed early--she knew the book by heart but she enjoyed going back over it. A mindless task that would keep her from dwelling on other thoughts like her family. The snippets of conversation from Dan had been enough to give her a sickly sweet nostalgia for her home.
Dan hadn't even made it completely out of town before tears started to fall again. He wanted to leave the town but he just....couldn't. His feet refused to move forward out completely to the trail.
Why....Ugh...... He glanced at the Pokeball containing Rat. He needed to apologize just not tonight.
I can't go back to that center but I can't leave. Mom, you've always told me what to do. He settled for a spot between a non-distinct building and the Pokecenter and tried for sleep.
It was sunrise, Dan hadn't managed to get but an hour of sleep and the sleep did get was filled with nightmares of all sorts. Luckily nobody had noticed him settled there.
Before I go back in...Dan thought as he released Rat from his Pokeball, Instantly the Pokemon turned his back to his trainer.
"Hey, bud." Dan said Sheesh I sound like my dad... "Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you the way I did last night. I was mad and I shouldn't have pushed that hard. It was wrong of me. I can't expect you to forgive me, but, just know. I'm sorry." Dan said.
Ugh, Talk about a typical apology. He probably can't even understand me.
While though, he couldn't understand, Rat knew the sentiment behind his trainer words, He accepted his apology but it would take a little more time to forgive him and trust him again.
Waking up at a much too early 9 PM, Indigo felt a splitting headache resonate throughout his skull, made even more unbearable by the tears on his pillowcase. Why, why had all of that happened last night? What had he been thinking? Groaning, he closed his eyes, bombarded by all too sharp memories from the night previous.
As Indigo made his way to Quiet Road, he knew the chances of seeing the Vivillion were slim, but he had actually taken the time to do his research on his pokedex. Apparently Vivillion were attracted to specific flowers and often fed regularly in the same spots, especially if they were marked as their territory. With Quiet Road having some of the flora that Vivillion were attracted to, it was no surprise their family was so common on the trail. It took about an hour of searching, but finally he spotted one.
This one had deep, verdant green looking wings and was feeding on a cluster of lillies. The only reason he could even see it was because of the glittering from its jewel like scales, sparkling in the moonlight.
"Okay, we go up to it and don't scare it.." He said.
With his pokemon just stronger than before, and with Indy having more experience with a (grudging) thanks to Margo coaching him on his pokemon, they approached. Hawka, ever eager, presented the challenge and invitation to join the team. With some afterthought, the Vivillion accepted.
The battle was still incredibly difficult. With Vivillion being able to fly, his pokemon had to be quick and lucky to not suffer the effects of any powder moves it had. Some fierce Gusts and tricky Powder moves later, however, his pokemon hanging on by their skin. It all seemed lost, though Mimi was able to jump high enough and land a crippling hit on the butterfly pokemon. As Indigo threw the pokeball, it finally clicked after a few agonizingly long shakes.
Elated, he ran to the ball, grabbing it triumphantly and spinning around with it in glee. He was over the moon with giddiness. His pokemon jumped around him excitedly, chirping and cheering themselves. A new teammate!
"Alright... I'll leave you guys in your pokeballs for now. Don't worry, Kovi, you'll be with us soon," Indigo spoke towards the pokeball, smiling. Though the newly named Vivillion couldn't hear him, it felt good to say the words anyway.
After a trip back to the center, it was nearing 10 PM and Indy was feeling exhausted. Still, his battle with Jack was tomorrow, and he was worried. The last battle I got canned. I know he's going to use a water-type, but I can't risk not using Hawka. She's not going to sit back anyway. This Vivillion should definitely be strong enough, but Hero's not going to be.
He paused, his teenage brain thinking up rash and stupid decisions based on ridiculous conjectures.
I've got two bug types now but... I really don't need Hero. It was because of Hero we lost the last battle. A bitter expression spread across Indy's face. Hero was weak, weak as they came, even when he trained with Mimzy and Hawka. He had made barely any progress, despite his trainings, and Indigo, quite frankly, was just about done with the lame grass and bug type. After all, Hero didn't fit into his team in the first place, neither aesthetically or combat-wise. He was just... a hindrance. An ugly one, at that.
The plan had never been to keep Hero around anyways, Indigo resolved. I mean, it was just to let him heal up for awhile. He doesn't need my help anymore. And what's the point if he can't do anything. He's just useless with his stupid Protects and Tackles... I've got a freaking Vivillion now. I never needed Hero and I don't need him now.
Hero's pokeball button was clicked and the little bug rustled his leaf-cloak in excitement. It was rare that Indy took him out of his ball besides to train with the others. Though Mimzy and Hawka usually had plenty of time one on one with Indigo, Hero never did. The Burmy was happy; he had been beginning to think that Indy didn't like him like the others. As he went to leap into Indy's arms, however, Indigo stopped him.
"Hero, I'm letting you go. I think it's better this way," Indigo said, not sure why he felt awful. Immediately, there was a clenching in his chest. This felt wrong. But it couldn't be wrong, could it? He'd just spent the better part of an hour thinking up all the great reasons to let this stupid pokemon go. Right?
Hero shook his head, rightfully confused and frightened.
"Hero I just think you're better off in the wild. I mean, we're just holding you back, right?" It was such an ugly, bitter lie that Indigo could practically taste it on his tongue. He swallowed. No, this had to be done.
Hero frantically tried climbing up Indy's arm. Things were going to be okay, weren't they? His human wasn't actually letting him go? What about Hawka and Mimzy? Couldn't he say goodbye? Tears started forming at the corner of the pokemon's eyes before falling down his face. It looked like dew on his earthy green leaves. In the moonlight, he almost looked beautiful.
"No," Indigo said firmly, pushing through his feelings. "Sorry Hero, we don't need you anymore. You're too weak. And ugly. Just-- get away from me, already!" Indigo pushed the little bug back, frustrated and angry. Why did he feel this way when it was obviously his only choice left? Stupid Hero, trying to guilt him when he barely did anything in the first place! "I can't keep you, sorry. You'll find a better trainer and better friends." Indigo stood up and Hero, sobbing, turned to flee somewhere on Quiet Road.
It wasn't 10 seconds before Indigo fully realized the extent of what had just happened. His eyes widened and started smarting. No-- No, what had he just done? Hero was gone now, for good. But Indy had never expected it to feel like this. Expecting the sweet wash of relief to fall over him, regret and shame multiplied instead, bubbling up and making his very heart hurt.
"Hero! HERO! Wait! WAIT! COME BACK!" He screamed, running in the direction that Hero had gone. But the pokemon was nowhere to be seen or heard. His breath coming out in shaky gasps, Indigo kneeled on the ground. I forced Hero to go... I can't believe I just did that. I made a mistake.
"Hero, come back, please!"
Having gotten out of bed and freshened up, Indigo was dreading his battle with Jack. He was going to need to explain to his pokemon what had happened, as well. I've never felt so ashamed... It was 9:30 AM. There was no choice but to get some breakfast and hope for the best. He headed to the pokemon center lobby.
Hawka the Torchic F- lvl 20+1=21 Hero the Burmy M -lvl 19 Mimzy the Buneary F- 20+1=21 Kovi the Vivillion M- 25
Items: small pearl ×1 White Herb x1 Kee Berry ×9 pokeball ×3-1=2 Cheri berry x6
Margo stared at the scrap of paper in her hand. The number written on it was ingrained in her mind by now, but she still looked at it constantly. She wrestled with the idea of calling her parents all night, Dan's intense emotions for his mother's illness still nagging at her. She sighed, folding the paper and shoving it back into her backpack sitting next to her, throwing her regrets into the pack as well.
The woman caught sight of Indy coming out down the hall of the pokemon center, waving him down from the same seat she had been in last night when Indy and Dan had gone off to their own devices. "Indy, how did you sleep? Are you all rested for your battle with that little kid?" Margo smiled softly at the male as he made his way to the lobby, wondering if he would use some of the things she had taught him the other day. Maybe something actually stuck during their training the other day if he was lucky.
Dan reentered the center just after Margo asked her question, only exchanging a quick "Hey." as he grabbed items he left behind the night prior and headed out onto the trail, determined to finally surpass everyone else, with Rat at his side.
Dan trained with all his pokemon The training, while though rigorous, was managed better than the night before, his pokemon seemingly growing in strength during each battle. "C'mon guys, a quick break then we'll battle that Zvi kid...If he's still around." Dan said smugly to his pokemon sure they could best most challenges.
As he walked back to the center for the second time, he passed Zvi and said: "Hey, I'm going to heal my pokemon, then we can have that battle!" He screamed towards the kid who was a ways away standing next to an odd-looking tree.
After a quick refresh and another quick travel, Dan reached Zvi, the tree that was next to him. Gone.
"You ready for that battle?" Dan said to the boy
-Trained all Pokemon= plus 1-2 levels? -Refreshed Pokemon -Challenged Zvi
