"Let's try one more time," Owen said.
Eevee nodded, looking somewhat resigned to her fate. Seeing her expression, Owen's voice took on a sudden, serious edge.
"Don't use that attitude. Bring back the drive you had when you were building sandcastles. Just like then, I will stay by your side until you complete this training."
This was special training; Owen couldn't maintain his usual easy-going persona. One minute of glory on stage requires ten years of work off-stage.
If Eevee was afraid of hardship and fatigue now, she would only reject the organized training the school would provide once the semester started.
And in a real battle—unless you forfeit—your opponent won't take pity on you or hold back. The pain she would suffer then would be ten or twenty times what she felt now.
"Vee!" Eevee barked with determination.
She wanted to get stronger, too, so she had to overcome this! Thinking of Owen's companionship during the sandcastle building and their shared joy after succeeding, Eevee felt a pang of shame. She trotted over and rubbed against Owen's leg to show her resolve.
"Good. Let's continue. Your best time yesterday was 117 seconds. This morning, you need to complete the shuttle run in under 110 seconds. If you fail, lunch is canceled. And no TV dramas for a week."
Eevee's fur stood on end. She sprinted back to the white starting line. Those two punishments were essentially fatal to her.
Since birth, she hadn't faced any real setbacks; she ate well, drank well, and spent every day curled up with a phone watching her favorite shows. Losing that would be the end of the world.
She stared intensely into the dense woods.
"Start!"
The Weight of Discipline
This time, because Owen had been firm with his threats and Eevee had reflected on her behavior, there was a shift.
Just as parents shouldn't always spoil a child, a Pokémon needs proper education. Because of her instincts, Eevee's movements still faltered occasionally, but Owen didn't nag her. He let her work through it herself.
He wasn't idling, either; he was exercising his own body. Since the Secret Realms merged with Earth, the elemental changes in the air had slightly boosted human physical limits.
However, after trying to keep up with Eevee yesterday, Owen's body had been pushed to its limit. This wasn't the result he wanted; he needed to be stronger to lead her.
By midday, Eevee had accumulated a fair share of bruises. Though Owen treated them immediately, the pain was hers to bear.
Unfortunately, she still didn't break the 110-second mark, missing it by a narrow margin.
Owen checked his watch, said nothing, and led a dejected Eevee back home.
No lunch... No shows...
Eevee was starving after half a day of intense exercise. Her stomach growled loudly. She felt a wave of despair; she knew she could have hit 110 seconds.
The explosive force from Tackle had made her start much faster, but her survival instincts were still slowing her down near the obstacles.
"Here is your lunch and an Oran Berry."
Back home, after being busy for a while, Owen placed the food in front of Eevee. Eevee's eyes widened in confusion.
"Canceled lunch was the punishment for me. No TV dramas are the punishment for you," Owen said. "Eat quickly, then take a nap. Training continues this afternoon, and it will be even stricter."
After setting the bowl down, Owen sat on the sofa and closed his eyes, replaying the morning's session in his mind.
He was actually quite satisfied with Eevee's change in attitude. As for skipping her lunch? He never truly intended to do that.
With such a high training volume, if she didn't get enough nutrition, her body would break down.
But for Eevee to understand the weight of their goals, there had to be a consequence.
"Vee..." Seeing the food, then looking at Owen's equally exhausted face, Eevee realized what he meant. She hurriedly pushed the Oran Berry toward Owen, chirping urgently.
Learning that it was Owen's meal that was canceled, not hers, was harder for her to accept.
"Eat," Owen said, opening his eyes and shaking his head. "Since we've made our decision, we have to hold ourselves to a higher standard.
Missing one lunch is nothing. Remember, Eevee, I am your Trainer. For a long time to come, we are a single unit. Only by working together can we have a better life in the future."
At the very least, Eevee's current high-quality diet was something Owen's finances couldn't sustain for long.
Resources were scarce; if they wasted them, Owen felt he would be failing Eevee and his parents. That was why he had to be strict.
From that afternoon on, after hearing Owen's stomach growl, Eevee truly understood. She wasn't just a pet to be cared for; she was a partner. She needed to do something for her Trainer, too.
She threw herself into the afternoon session with renewed vigor. The training was mind-numbingly repetitive, but shortcuts to strength were rare—at least ones they could access now.
In the afternoon, Eevee broke 100 seconds. Letting go of her fears, she endured the pain and progressed rapidly.
However, the resulting injuries were beyond what basic Potions could fix quickly. For the first time, Owen recalled her into her Poké Ball and took her to the Pokémon Center.
The South Nanwu Town Pokémon Center was just a simple clinic.
With few Trainers in town, the center was quiet. Owen registered with his Trainer ID, handed over the Poké Ball, and waited.
Half an hour later, a nurse came out pushing a small cart. Eevee was fully restored, bouncing around the cart, ready to leap toward Owen.
"How is she?" Owen scooped her into his arms.
"She's fine now. Here is your Poké Ball," the nurse said.
Owen exhaled. Even though he knew they were just surface wounds, he had been worried about internal issues. The efficiency of the center, despite its size, was impressive.
He'd definitely be back.
Eevee: ??? (Wait, "definitely be back"?!)
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