Alain
Another fruitless day. By the time we reached the forest behind the Pokemon Center, the sky had already turned into a starry night.
Neither that Pokémon nor those rings appeared. Charizard roars beside me, mostly out of annoyance since our search keeps leading nowhere. Then I hear a voice near the river. I walk closer and stop behind a tree as I listen to Sorren speaking to his Poryphone.
"Alex, did Daniel tell you he would be here as well?"
Daniel?
"Stop calling him Danny like he is your closest friend! You know very well that I hate him and his stupid mouth calling me Ren like we are friends. As if he hasn't destroyed me in every battle we ever had!"
"I have gotten stronger? So has he! I don't even know which Pokémon he has caught in all these years! He always wins with his Flygon!"
"Out of everywhere I could have met him…it had to be here. Can you believe my luck?"
He is probably talking to his brother…
I should leave them be.
Just as I am about to walk away, a sudden weight crashes against my leg. I look down to find a Ralts holding two pokéballs in its hands. The moment I notice it, it teleports away and drops the pokéballs onto the ground.
I hear Sorren gasp, "Ralts! What are you doing here?"
I bend down and pick up the pokéballs. By the time I straighten up again, Sorren is already standing a few steps away from me.
"Alain?"
I hold the pokéballs in one hand while looking at him. He is carrying the egg again while Ralts sits on his shoulder, watching me cautiously.
"Sorren. I didn't mean to disturb you. You sounded busy talking with your…brother, I assume?"
"Yeah, I was," he replies, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly, "I'm done now…Are you training with your…Charizard?"
"Not really. We haven't decided what to do yet." I adjust the strap of the duffel bag resting on my shoulder before holding out the pokéballs toward him, "The Ralts was carrying these. Did you catch it?"
"Oh, Ralts?" Sorren carefully takes the Poké Balls from my hand, "It's not mine! I found it today and tomorrow we're going to look for its trainer."
"It seems like it has gotten comfortable around you," I point out.
Sorren smiles softly at the Pokémon on his shoulder, "Maybe because I rescued it…" He hesitates for a second before asking, "Do you want to sit by the river?"
This is becoming a habit between us.
Sitting by the river.
I nod once and follow him toward the flat rock near the water. We sit down beside each other while he carefully places the egg between us while Charizard sits beside me on the ground with his wings folded. Ralts hops down into his lap and presses a hand against his fingers as if trying to understand something.
"Are you male or female, Ralts?" Sorren asks curiously. When he guesses, "Male?" Ralts immediately shakes its head. He laughs and gently rubs her head, "Then you'll grow into a beautiful Gardevoir someday."
"You know a lot about their evolutionary line," I observe.
"O-Oh…" His ears turn red. Does he feel cold? "M-My dad has a Gallade, so I spent a lot of time around him before. He's really amazing at battling!" He pauses before glancing toward me again, "By the way…can I ask you for another favor?"
I stay silent, waiting for him to continue, "I just have a theory that…the egg reacts whenever you are near me," he explains nervously, "So maybe…do you want to hold it? It feels like the egg is attached to you somehow."
I pick up the egg and rest it in my hands. Nothing happens. For a moment, the egg stays completely still when suddenly Ralts jumps into my lap and places her hand gently against the shell. The egg begins shaking vigorously.
"Ralts—what are you doing?" Sorren leans closer without realizing it. His hands wrap around the egg along with mine as both of us stare at it in surprise. I thought he would say something else but he is quiet.
"Sorren?"
He looks up at me and his entire face turns bright red. Should I offer him my jacket if he is feeling that cold?
Almost instantly, he jerks away and slides back across the rock while covering his face with both hands. Meanwhile, Ralts remains happily seated in my lap as if she found our interaction funny.
"Sorren, are you alright?"
"H-Huh?" He shakes his head, "Y-Yeah! Yeah, I'm fine! I'm just…" His voice grows louder in panic, "I want to meet your Pokémon!"
"You already know Charizard."
Charizard lets out a huff of smoke beside me, but Sorren shakes his head again.
"No, your other Pokémon!" he blurts out, "W-We were busy battling last time, so I never really got to know them! This is a good chance, right? I mean, if we're getting closer then our Pokémon should too and—wait, that sounded wrong—Not like that! I didn't mean it in that way, I just meant—"
"Sorren," I interrupt calmly, "are you really okay?"
"No…Yes!" He immediately jumps off the rock while picking Ralts from my lap and holds her close against his chest. In one quick motion, he throws his two Poké Balls into the air.
"Luxray, Pikachu! Come out!"
The moment they appear, Pikachu climbs onto Sorren's shoulder while Luxray walks over to sit beside Charizard. They have come to like each other after the battle…
I pull a pokéball from my bag and toss it into the air, "Metagross, someone wants to meet you."
A flash of light bursts beside the river as the massive Steel type materializes. Metagross lands heavily onto the ground, red eyes glowing calmly as he observes the area around him.
"You have a Pokémon that's the same as Champion Steven's ace!" Sorren gushes excitedly as he steps closer. I watch Metagross. Normally, he dislikes unfamiliar trainers getting too close, yet now he simply stares at Sorren with curiosity.
Sorren looks back at me while stretching one arm out cautiously, Ralts still held in the other, "Can I?"
I nod. Sorren gently touches the silver cross on Metagross's face while Pikachu happily climbs onto the Steel type.
This is unusual. I never expected Metagross to allow someone unfamiliar to approach him so easily.
"You must be really strong," Sorren says while rubbing Metagross, "I hope we can battle someday in the future!"
"Pika pi!" Pikachu cheers while Ralts leaves Sorren's arms and climbs onto Metagross beside Pikachu.
I throw out another pokéball, "Tyranitar, show yourself."
The ground trembles slightly as Tyranitar appears with a heavy roar. He scans the area once before spotting Sorren. Without hesitation, Tyranitar walks toward him and rubs his head against Sorren's shoulder. Sorren laughs softly as he pets him, "You like being petted?"
Tyranitar lets out another deep roar in response while Sorren continues rubbing him fondly. I watch the interaction silently.
I have never seen my Pokémon behave this way before…What is it about Sorren that makes them act like this?
Tyranitar settles beside Sorren while I release the next pokémon, "Weavile, behave yourself."
The moment she appears, she ignores my instruction completely. Weavile darts forward, snatches Sorren's hat right off his head, then leaps onto the branch of a nearby tree.
"I apologize for her behavior."
Sorren simply shakes his head with a small laugh, "It's fine. She isn't hurting anyone."
Pikachu leaves Metagross and quickly climbs up the tree beside Weavile. She places Sorren's hat on top of Pikachu's head, earning another chuckle from Sorren.
An involuntary smile spreads across my face while watching him stare up at Weavile with admiration shining in his eyes. I quickly shake the feeling away before throwing the next pokéball, "Bisharp, come out."
The Steel type appears before walking straight toward the tree trunk beneath Weavile and standing there with his arms crossed. Sorren approaches him and stretches his hand forward, "Hello, Bisharp. I'm Sorren."
Bisharp opens one eye briefly before looking away. Still, he lightly taps one arm against Sorren's hand.
"He acknowledges you," I explain.
Sorren smiles warmly at that, "That's good to know!"
As I reach for another pokéball, I glance toward him, "The next one likes hugging people…Chesnaught."
The moment Chesnaught materializes, he looks around in confusion for a second before locking eyes with Sorren. Immediately, he walks forward and lifts Sorren straight off the ground in a crushing hug.
"W-Wait!" Sorren bursts into laughter while trying unsuccessfully to escape from Chesnaught's grip. Eventually, he gives up and simply laughs while enduring the hug. Nearby, Luxray finally wakes up from where she had been resting beside Charizard. She quickly rushes toward them with a growl, "Luxray, it's okay," Sorren says between laughs, "He's friendly like Pikachu."
"Pika!"
The moment Chesnaught notices Luxray, he releases Sorren and grabs Luxray instead, pulling her into another massive hug.
"Lux?!" Electricity crackles around her fur as she nearly attacks before stopping when Sorren pets her head.
"Just enjoy it, Luxray."
"Lux…"
I toss the next pokéball into the air, "Unfezant, take to the sky."
He appears before flying over the river in wide circles. Eventually, he glides down beside me. Sorren walks toward him and crouches slightly, "You look so elegant…"
He gently brushes his fingers against his feathers. Unfezant chirps before taking flight once again above the river. Then Sorren suddenly looks back at me, "Also…how are you carrying more than six Pokémon?"
As he stands again, I pull out the final pokéball.
"I don't know," I simply answer.
"That shouldn't even be possible, right?" Sorren says in confusion, "Extra Pokémon usually get sent to the regional professor from where the trainer comes from…" He pauses, "O-Oh! I never asked before, but what region are you from?"
"Kalos."
"That's the same region Alex went to! I could ask him to talk to the professor there!"
"That won't be necessary, Sorren."
"But—"
"Let's meet the last pokemon, alright?" I cut him off and Sorren hold his head down and mumble a 'sorry' as I toss out the last pokéball, "Be careful around him"
I appreciate the help, Sorren but I don't believe Professor Sycamore of the Kalos region that your brother has gone to, is the man I know.
Malamar emerges last. Out of all my Pokémon, he is the one I least want Sorren approaching yet Sorren walks closer anyway. Malamar stares at him silently for a moment before the markings on his body begin glowing under the moonlight—
He is about to use hypnosis on Sorren!
"Sorren, close your eyes—!"
I am too late as Sorren looks directly at Malamar and he falls backward but I catch him in time, "Malamar!"
Malamar turns away as I tighten my hold on Sorren before lifting him by the waist. His head falls against my chest, completely asleep. I walk to the tree where Pikachu, Weavile and Bisharp are settled. Bisharp shifts to another tree as I lower Sorren against the trunk but when I try to move back and think of what to do, his hands grip mine as if scared of leaving him.
I glance toward the direction of the Pokémon Center. If I carry him back like this, people will ask questions but I can't leave him here either…Just for one night.
I remove my jacket and drape it over him before sitting down beside him. Almost immediately, Sorren's head rolls against my shoulder.
Pikachu jumps down from the branch above while still carrying Sorren's hat. He lands on Sorren's lap, circles once, then curls his tail around himself before settling down to sleep. Luxray finally manages to escape Chesnaught's overwhelming affection and walks toward us. She lowers herself beside Pikachu, resting her head near him as she closes her eyes for the night. Ralts finally notices what is happening. She teleports beside Luxray and curls up against her side.
Chesnaught walks over to the flat rock by the river before picking up the egg. He places it onto my lap instead. I look at him and give a nod of appreciation before recalling the others to their pokéballs. All except Charizard. He settles himself in front of us, tail wrapped around his body while the flame at its tip flickers through the darkness. Before long, even he closes his eyes for the night.
Beside me, Sorren shifts in his sleep and nearly falls sideways. Without thinking, I place one arm around his shoulder to steady him and let his head rest fully against my shoulder. I close my eyes slowly as one thought crosses my mind.
I never imagined the night would end like this.