The Bonds Between People and Pokémon

Leone

Panting, Aspetto and I reached the top of the mountain. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw what was waiting for me. Seven voltorbs all clustered around a weird glowing contraption. Their eyes were closed, they weren't moving, and smoke was billowing out from their tiny bodies. 

They were dead. 

A girl stood off to the side, wearing a black hoodie and writing in a notebook. She rose her head slowly, then spun around to face us. Her eyes were dark brown, almost matching her black hair tied back in a ponytail, or perhaps the large rock on the scruff of her lycanroc (midnight form)

Much to my surprise, she brightened up as soon as she saw us. "Fiore! Aspetto! I was hoping you might show up! Look what I made!" The strange girl made sweeping hand gesture to the weird glowing contraption next to her. 

I cautioned a glance at Aspetto. His jaw was practically on the floor, though I had yet to determine if it was from her behavior or the dead cluster of Pokémon. 

Seeing no further reaction from him, I decided to confront the girl first. "Two things. First, what's your name. Second,  what the heck is that thing and why are there literal dead organisms on the ground?"

She gave me a warm smile. "My name is Leone. My Lycanroc's name is Vox, and this right here is a battery. As for the-"

She was interrupted by the pop of teleportation - something we really needed to regulate but no one seemed to have the time or the patience. I could see two news reporters standing next to an Kadabra. "Hi everyone! Just stand real still, going to take some pictures for the paper." An emolga was perched on top of the nearby cameraman's camera. It released a burst of electricity, there was a camera flash, a pop, and they were gone.

Leone gave a small shake of her head. "As I was saying, the dead Voltorbs were necessary to get the required power into my container. Collateral for the good of humankind."

Aspetto started wildly signing at me. It was all I could do to translate as fast as his hands. "What do you mean, the good of humankind?! These are dead Pokémon! Dead! You took lives, for seemingly no reason! We've never heard of batteries, and we've lived for decades without them!" 

I put my hand on my hip. "I agree with everything he's saying by the way. Thought you should know that we speak for ourselves and each other."

Leone nodded her head. "All valid points. But you see, you're not grasping the full scope of things. Remember how that emolga had to release it's own power to make the camera shoot? With a battery, I'm harnessing and using that power. Now the emolga can be free to do other things then be a constant slave to humans, and you could use that camera anytime without worries!"

Once again, Aspetto signed and I translated. "But why'd they have to die?"

Leone waved her hand dismissively "Are not Pokémon nothing more than slaves? So what if they die?"

Aspetto started visibly shaking in anger. I personally had no idea he felt that strongly about Pokémon, and the nonchalant expression on Leone's face did nothing more than make him angrier. "Start plotting." I whispered to Vulpix, my sign that it should start using nasty plot. It nodded its head once to show it heard me, something I was very proud of training it to do, and closed its eyes for a second. 

Leone noticed what I noticed too. Her expression became guarded, and she assumed a fighting stance. 

Aspetto rushed forward at her. "Vox! Stone edge!" she shouted. 

At once several sharp pieces of rock jutted out from the ground. They would have straight-up impaled Aspetto if my Vulpix hadn't used quick attack on him. He flew sideways, and the aftereffect of quick attack returned Vulpix to my side. 

Of course Leone wasn't done. Cautioning a glance at her, I noticed she was smiling. "Ok now Vox, use Earthquake!"

I was stunned. Earthquake was a move that could only be taught to powerful Pokémon. No one was quite sure why, but the more you train with a Pokémon the stronger it gets and the more advanced the moves it could learn. One thing's for sure though - I wasn't dealing with a novice. The earth beneath our feet started violently shaking. I was honestly rather scared for my life. Giant chasms opened up in the ground, separating Vulpix, Aspetto and me. There was nothing I could do to help either one of them, the distance between us was too great. 

Leone gave one last satisfied smile. "I've always been a fan of puzzles, so I'll leave you one, especially as you're literally no threat to me. I'll be conducting research where golden flowers sway." She smiled cheekily, waved goodbye, and started walking away. 

As soon as the splits in the ground closed up I rushed to Aspetto's side, only to sharply recoil. His face looked...different somehow, as if it were only drawn on.  However I blinked and everything went back to normal. Aspetto opened his eyes and smiled weakly. "Welp, that was crazy. But it was just a dream right?" 

I slowly shook my head no. I was in no mood for humor. Aspetto caught my eye and had the grace to look at least a little ashamed of himself. Without another word I summoned Vulpix to my side. Absentmindedly I petted its head. Leone did bring up some good food for thought - was the death of a few Pokémon worth the freedom of thousands of others? Especially since we pretty much viewed them as servants. I looked towards my Vulpix. No, it wasn't a servant to me, but it wasn't just a pet either. 

I didn't even notice Aspetto came to a sitting position and was signing to me. "-to name it?"

I gave a wan smile. Maybe the reason her Lycanroc (Fox? Tox?) was so strong was because it had a name. Besides, my Vulpix and I have been friends for a while - maybe I should strengthen it's bond. 

"Snow?"

"I'm being serious Fiore."

I gave a little sigh. "All right then. How does Yuki sound to you?"

Aspetto cocked his head. "You-key?"

I laughed, unexpected to even me. "Spelled Y-U-K-I Aspetto."

"I think You-key's a wonderful name Fiore. I love it."

I looked towards Yuki, sitting and licking it's paw. I felt the name really suited it. 

Aspetto, Yuki and I remained that way for a while, sitting and making jokes. It almost made me forget all about Leone. Yet that reality remained, and deep down inside I knew our peace would last but a short time.