PokeVentures - Honorable Hoenn - Yokai Backstory

Honorable Hoenn - Part Two

"Remember what we told you, Yokai." Drai says in a strict manner as I rest a hand on the back door handle. "Stay away from that absol."

"And be careful of the traps we set out there!" Grandma Brie calls from the kitchen.

"Yes, I know. I'm ten not five. I heard you the first time." I open the door and leave without another word, Louie the Jolteon following me closely. I look down at him with a sigh. "I know yesterday was rough but I think we will have better luck today. Once I have my own pokemon I can leave this place." He let out a soft bark. "Don't worry, I'll be more careful than before."

The forest is moving erratically with the end-of-summer winds, many smaller pokemon are already hidden as I approach. But I'm not interested in Caterpies and Wurmples. That Absol is my goal now. "Do you remember where they set those traps, Louie?" I look down at my Jolteon as he nods. "Lead me to them. I want to make sure the Absol didn't get caught in any."

I follow him through the trees along narrow pathways that have become overgrown and crowded with plants.

"Do you think I should name it? Like how my dad named you?" I smile softly. "I should give the Absol a really cool name. Like... Abyss. No. That's too dark. Maybe something like Henry. What do you think Louie?" I look at him and he looks back at me. "No? Okay, I'll think of something else." I smile and run after him until we get to one of the traps.

In the trap, hanging upside down from a large tree... is not my Absol. "It's a Bellsprout... Dang." I sigh and untie the rope, sending the Bellsprout falling to the ground. I catch it before it can hit the ground and I set it free. "Is there another one, Louie?" The Jolteon barks, nods, and heads in another direction while still be cautious of our surroundings.

As we approach the trap the white fur immediately catches my eye. "Absol!" I run over and hesitate when I see the creature's back foot is caught in a bear trap. It wasn't struggling now, just laying on the ground quietly. I approach more and gently pet the soft fur on its back. "Absol?" That blue face looks up at me and those deep red eyes meet my own. I see the wound stretching across its left cheek and over its muzzle. I smile softly. "Will you let me help you this time?" I take out my pokeball and set it on the ground between us. "You saved me and Louie. Now let me help you. You'll be safe in this ball while I take you to the Pokemon Center." I pet the top of its soft head. "Please.."

There's no way for it to escape this time. It can't vanish into the trees now. Though Absol is hesitant, they give the ball a poke and then become free from the trap by being encapsulated in the white and red ball. I watch eagerly as the ball sways back and forth before it stops. "It worked! I caught my very own pokemon!" I pick up Absol's new home and grin. "I caught Absol!" I look to Louie. "Let's get him to the Pokemon Center! Lead the way!" I get to my feet, give the trap one more glance, before following the Jolteon out of the trees and down the outskirt country roads, kicking up dirt and rocks as we sprint the whole way there.

"Young girl.." The nurses soft voice says to me. "I have your absol ready to go."

"Thank you!" I grin and reach up to take the ball, but the pink-haired stranger seems hesitant to return it.

"Before you leave I just want to ask you a few questions." The nurse sits in the chair next to me. "Did you catch him all by yourself..?"

"Yeah! He's my first pokemon!"

"How long have you had him?"

"I just caught him today."

"Good." The woman gives me a suddenly serious look. "Release it."

"No!" I give her a shocked look. How dare she even suggest I get rid of a pokemon that not only saved me, but could end up in danger again if I let it go. "I worked so hard to catch him!"

"Absol are dangerous pokemon, little lady. They are not pets and they should never be treated as pets."

"You sound just like grandma and grandpa..."

"They're right then, you should listen to them."

"No! He might get caught in another trap if he's released!"

"That's not a bad thing. These pokemon bring disaster to people. They hurt people."

"But he saved me from a Rhyhorn!"

"Absol don't save people, girl."

"Well then maybe you're all wrong!" I snatch the pokeball from her and leave with a huff.

"Be careful! You can get in trouble for having that pokemon with you!"

I ignore the nurse as she yells after me, but doesn't start a chase. "I won't let people hurt you Absol. They don't know you like I do. Right Louie? Absol isn't bad at all." I look down at the Jolteon as he replies with a few barks. "See Absol? He thinks you're not bad at all!"

I stop in my tracks. "But what about grandma and grandpa? They're not going to be happy I bet..." I look at the pokeball in my hand. "Now what will we do..?" I guess we just have to hope for the best... I continue on the path back home, where my grandparents await my arrival.

"Yokai! How did it go this time?" Grandma Brie calls from the front porch. "Did you take your new pokemon to the center in town already?"

"It went great!" I run up to the porch and hug her. "I took him to the pokemon center already too!"

"That's good. I'm so proud of you." She wraps her thin arms around me, warming me up with the heavy sweater covering her. "Let's go inside and show grandpa and I your new pokemon."

"Okay..." Here comes the part I've been waiting for... If all else fails, I can leave and start my own journey like other kids my age. Maybe I can even get a pokedex somewhere! I follow Louie and Brie inside the house and sit on the couch at the back wall as my grandparents sit in the recliners on either side of me.

"What kind of pokemon did you catch, Yokai?" Grandpa asks.

I hold out the pokeball and release the Absol inside. He looks at my shocked grandparents and then turns to me. I smile softly and pet him as my grandma begins a panicked and shaky lecture. "This is exactly what we told you not to do, Yokai! That thing is a monster, it'll bring a whole disaster to this house if we keep it here!"

"Absol never hurt anyone! He saved me in that forest yesterday when a Rhyhorn attacked us!"

"Absol don't save people. They bring trouble in pain wherever they go. Release it back into that forest and forget about it."

"Not to mention it's basically illegal in some places to have one of those with you."

"He never hurt anyone!" I return the Absol and hold the ball close to me. "I'm not letting him go just so he can get caught in one of your traps!"

"You have to, Yokai!" Drai finally says, putting his foot down. "This isn't your choice!"

"Yes it is!" I give up arguing and run up to my room on the second floor. My bedroom door slams behind me and I plop onto the bed, Absol's pokeball still clutched close to my chest. "I'm not releasing you, Absol. They're all wrong. Don't listen to them."

The Absol comes out and sits on the floor looking up at me. His red eyes are wide, almost, scared. "It'll be okay, Absol... " I pause and smile, gently petting the fluff on his head. "I think I'll name you Cameron. Do you like that name?"

That seems to perk him up a little and a soft growl is given to me in response. "We're going to have so many adventures together, Cameron." Cameron lets out a soft whine. "Don't worry about my grandparents. They don't know you like I do. No one does. So don't listen to them, you're not a monster and I don't think you're dangerous." I smile and get out of bed. "Perhaps we should start our adventure now! What do you think?" The pokemon follows me from one end of the room to the other as I run around gathering whatever I need in my backpack. I get his pokeball and return him to it before sneaking out the back door of the house and into the trees.