Endless Odyssey: A Pokémon Story

Chapter 4 part one: A New Spring

I remember that day, the day I was chosen as a Pokémon partner. It was a day of pure joy, a day of naïve dreams. I envisioned a grand journey with my trainer, a journey where we would conquer the world together, inseparable in victory and defeat. A dream of a child.

But then I lost my first battle. I was returned, discarded by the trainer who I thought was my partner. It shattered me, but I held on to hope, thinking it was a mere mishap. So, I tried again. I endured a bit longer, but the end remained the same.

Again and again, the cycle repeated. Each time, the pain lessened as the truth sank in. The truth that humans are inherently selfish, driven by their own desires. I remember one trainer who chose me solely for his craving to see my final form.

This harsh reality led me to a revelation. I yearned for freedom. No, I yearned for more than that. I yearned for liberation. But the world is not kind to a lone Sprigatito. Freedom came with its own perils.

I held a dream, clear as the markings that adorned my hide. A simple dream, of evolution, but one that was bound by the constraints of time and experience—two threads woven together in the tapestry of Pokémon life. If only I could evolve, break free from the cycle before a trainer could claim me. A life of freedom awaited, a life unchained. No trainer to command me, no rules to follow. Just me, my dreams, my world. And nothing, no one, could stand in my way.

Experience was an easier way to evolve, but it also required a trainer. I would have to let time take its natural path so my escape is met with less friction. If I had a trainer when I evolved, there would most likely be a search involving police hot on my tail. Time was my best option.

A year passed by, then two, then four, eight, twelve, fifteen. I could tell I was going to evolve at any moment! My long wait was finally coming to an end! Then he happened.

A blonde, long-haired boy with some sort of face cover decided to ruin my day and choose me out of the crowd of three. Out of all the days! Now I will admit, I did have some say in whether I went with him or not, he even asked for my consent. But it was probably a trick! In the end, he still would have most likely made the same decision!

There was something odd about him though, his scent was a bit strange. It was reminiscent to a pokémon's. I guess it kinda affected my choice, but simply because I was curious! Nothing else!

Unfortunately, Nemona was present for the blonde boy's first pokémon. Normally, when trainers choose their first pokémon, it's in a private setting. However, every now and then, Nemona asks to come along so that she can engage in another one of her pointless battles.

On my part, I've had the 'luck' of battling Nemona several times and I've found that the girl's just a freak. No one should enjoy watching others fight so much!

Yet, this time felt different. As the battle commenced, I couldn't help but notice the way the blonde boy watched me—not with the usual gleam of ambition or hunger for victory, but with a genuine curiosity and a hint of admiration. As if, he actually cared about me? But, i-it was just a cover-up! It had to be; no human can think past themselves!

The Nemona girl released a small, rock-type dog Pokémon, which gave me the upper hand. The battle was swift and effortless; thanks to my experience, it was a walk in the park!

After defeating my opponent, the blonde boy congratulated me by petting my head, but honestly, it wasn't a pleasant experience! I simply purred in response. As he received praise, two other humans approached him to engage in conversation. Seizing the moment, I made a run for it!

I dashed toward the nearby fields, and remarkably, no one seemed to notice. Well, almost no one. I caught a glimpse of the blonde boy glancing at me from the corner of his eye while the others continued their chat. Why wasn't he panicking? Did he not want me around? That couldn't be the case, especially after I just won a battle—against Nemona, no less!

I paused my escape to look back at the boy. He half-heartedly watched me as he also tried to listen to what the older human was saying.

His expression was calm, not the frantic look of a trainer who's lost his Pokémon. Instead, there was an understanding in his eyes, as if he knew exactly what I was feeling. It unnerved me, yet intrigued me at the same time. Why wasn't he chasing after me like all the others? Why did he seem so different?

Caught in a moment of indecision, I hesitated. My heart raced, urging me to continue my flight to freedom, but something about the boy's demeanor held me back. Perhaps it was the way he seemed to respect my choices, or maybe it was the curiosity that lingered in his gaze.

Then, unexpectedly, he took a step back, creating more distance between us. With one more glance my way, his eyes spoke to me. "It's okay if you want to go, I just wanted to meet you, even if just for a moment. But if you choose to stay, I'd like to be your friend, not your master."

His unspoken words struck a chord within me, a melody I had never heard from any human before. Friendship? Was it possible for a Pokémon like me to truly have a friend in a human? Or was this another trick, another way to bind me to their world?

I glanced around, taking in the vast expanse of the fields stretching endlessly before me. Freedom was just a heartbeat away, yet the boy's words tugged at something deep within my soul—a longing for connection, for companionship.

With a deep breath, I took a tentative step back toward him, my heart pounding with both fear and hope. Maybe—just maybe—this time would be different. And if it wasn't, well, I still knew the way back to the fields. But for now, I decided to take a chance on the strange, gentle boy who offered something more than control: the promise of a genuine bond

(A/N: I was tired when I wrote this, next chapter will be better! Promise!)

(Stoke: Don't make promises you can't keep.)

(A/N: Leave me ALONE!)