The New Adventures of Raptor Trainer

Team Building

The human in black turned and looked my way, his green eyes scanning me up and down curiously.

"So...You're Echo, huh?"

I approached warily, subtly motioning for Rotom to stay behind me.

{...Who wants to know?} I inquired.

"Y-yeah! Who wantzzz to know, huh, pal!?"

"Hm...So you have sense enough to be wary. Not bad...Shame you're so easy to spot."

I looked back over to Hau, and he just shrugged in response. Both of us were fairly confused by all of this.

"Anyway, yes. I know some things about you..." he continued. "...But at this point, who on this island doesn't? You can imagine that when a Pokémon Trainer that looks anything like YOU comes to town, word spreads pretty quickly."

I gave off another nervous chuff. This human gave me a bad feeling about things.

"Anyways, enough about you...I'm Gladion. Me and my partner Null are training to get stronger. But nowadays, most of our time gets used up doing small jobs for Team Skull."

As soon as he said Team Skull's name, I narrowed my eyes, got into his face and let out a threatening hiss. I knew he'd already beaten Hau; if I hadn't stepped in, he might have made off with his Pokémon!

{Get out of here,} I snarled at him, and to my delight, he was actually taken somewhat aback this time. {And if you EVER cross me or any of my friends again...}

"Jeez...Don't you have to be able to at least SPEAK to be a Trainer? How the heck did you qualify?"

I stopped snarling when he said that, and his words whittled away at my aggression.

...He had a point.

"Hey!" Hau intervened. "You got some nerve talkin' to her like that! She's more civil and moral than any of you Team Skull punks!"

Gladion scoffed at him, unbothered by his claim.

"Do you actually think I ENJOY doing dirty work for them?" he retorted. "I don't like them any more than you do, but I'm stuck doing it until Null and I are strong enough to fend for ourselves...Which brings me to my second point."

He pulled a Poké Ball out of his pack.

"Battle me, Echo. I won't take no for an answer."

He tossed the capsule and released his first Pokémon: a Zubat. It let out a screech upon entering the battlefield.

"Well, are you gonna send out your Pokémon or just stand there like an idiot?"

{Can you WAIT a minute? I have to do something important first.}

I gave him an irked craw, then carefully took the egg out of my bag and placed it down at Hau's feet.

{I'm not sure how rough this might get...Make sure nothing happens to this while we fight, alright?}

"Whoa, cool! What do you think's in it?"

{I don't know...Just keep it safe, alright?}

"It's safe with me, pal!"

I nodded in satisfaction, then dug out one of my own Poké Balls and sent out Red to handle the situation.

"Rucha!" he squawked.

{Red, we've got another Zubat. Kick this off with Aerial Ace.}