- Vagabond - Male Reader x Pokémon

Chapter 29: Infiltration

(AN: We're back! I lost some motivation for this story but got this chapter out finally. Hopefully the next one doesn't take too long, but I might skip another week in between. Tiny rant. From the few Pokémon fics I've read years back (which were mostly betrayed Ash stories, I know, I know, I was a kid, leave me alone!) one of the main problems that they've always had, from my perspective, is that the actual Pokémon aren't really characters, if that makes sense? They're just there to be like, 'oh look how cool and well-made my team is.' It's also my main problem with harem stories, because most of the women in those fics aren't really characters, they're just trophies for the insert. I guess a harem Pokémon story would be the lowest low, though I'm sure there are plenty of them out there somewhere...)

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[Somewhere Within The Forest Of Route 203...]

It was practically impossible to make out [Y/N]'s Starly amidst the darkness of night. The rest of the small bird's body was a dark grey colour, accompanied by a black head and similarly shaded wings. It made spotting the flying-type practically impossible, almost like he was camouflaged into the environment. However, with every bolt of lightning, the white markings on Starly's face, and the spot upon the bird's chest, flashed bright reflecting back the sharp light. The booming thunder didn't bother him none though, not now, not while he was on a mission. When it came to reconnaissance missions, Starly was the best bet.

Starly had been given an order by his trainer, and there remained a solemn vow between the two of them, Human and Pokémon. They were to get stronger together, they would become the very strongest even, but that was something one could only achieve through trust. A trainer was only as strong as the team they kept with them, and vice versa. If even one cog suffered a fault then that affected the entire machine, and any mistake out in the middle of the woods, far from help and nearing a dangerous enemy, could easily have become their undoing.

During their brief time together, Starly had concluded that [Y/N] was a competent enough leader, and the right person to work alongside. He was determined if nothing else, with insurmountable objects appearing more like suggestions to him, and callous villains only the next great challenge to be overcome. His approach was one of bold confidence, even if it had to be faked every now and then. It was clear that he tried to hide it from the team as best he could, but Starly could tell when the weight of responsibility was bearing down upon him. He was a competent actor, but acting could only mask an ailment so far...

[Y/N] was a strange person, and that was a generous assessment. And yet, Starly couldn't necessarily throw such accusations around. He himself was an outcast to his own group, tossed to the wayside for his insubordination, and his inability to follow along. He was rowdy, with a proclivity towards fighting, and he threw himself at any chance to battle. His image was ruined, damaged beyond repair, and all the other Starly he had once known turned against him, left for dead. In those last moments of fading consciousness, he believed a death fought with every last ounce of his being would've been an honourable one, but even that showed how weak he truly was.

To accept death so easily. To surrender in the face of adversity. To claim that a good death was better than struggling. There was nothing more cowardly for a warrior. How could anyone claim to be a fighter, only to capitulate against their strongest confrontation? A true warrior sought out every challenge they could find, over, and over, and over again. It didn't matter how difficult it was!

Perhaps [Y/N]'s actions were motivated by more benevolent desires, more so than simply becoming the best, but the core tenants remained the same. He refused to give in, even when they were at their lowest, trudging through the stinking, monstrous mud while attempting to help others, based simply upon a hunch and bad feeling. Even in the worst of conditions he refused to capitulate! Now that was a true fighter!