Vol. I, Part 2: Chapter 13

  “So, what kind of music do you country boys listen to?” Hilda asked, adjusting her rearview mirror to catch the eyes of the passengers in the back.

  “Uhhh, what?” Hugh grunted, wrestling with a seatbelt that seemed determined to strangle him.

  “Music,” Hilbert replied, twisting around from the passenger seat, his arm draped casually over the headrest. “You know, like… pop, rock, rap, alternative?” He listed them off with a smirk, ticking fingers.

  “How about you, Nate?” Hilda asked, tapping her phone screen mounted on the dash to scroll through playlists.

  “I don't mind anything, really,” Nate replied.

  Hilda chuckled to herself, shaking her head. “God, you guys are lame.”

  She selected a high-energy pop playlist, and bass began to thump through the floorboards of the van. She threw the gearstick into reverse, backing out of the laboratory driveway with practiced ease. The four trainers were headed to the outskirts of Nuvema Town for their Deerling hunt. The location would be remote enough to support wild herds, but close enough to reach before lunch.

  “So, other than the fact you guys have no musical taste, what else can you tell us about yourselves?” Hilbert asked as they merged onto the highway.

  “What would you like to know?” Hugh responded, arms crossed defensively over his chest.

  “Well, for starters, tell us how you got into Pokémon training?” Hilda suggested, her eyes flicking to the mirror.

  “Alright,” Hugh agreed, relaxing his posture a fraction. “I've always been interested in Pokémon. I tried to learn everything I could, and be around them as much as possible.”

  “My dad works on a ranch, so I practically grew up in a herd,” Nate added.

  “Growing up, Nate and I would go looking for them in the wild, pretending to catch and battle them,” Hugh continued.

  “No way,” Hilda remarked, turning the music down slightly. “We used to do that too,” she said, shooting a glance at Hilbert.

  “We'd even drag Rosa along with us,” Hilbert added.

  “Yeah, the three of us would play with wild Pokémon all the time.”

  “You ever throw a rock at them, pretending it's a Poké Ball, and cause a herd of Venipede to chase you out of a forest?” Nate asked dryly.

  Hilbert and Hilda both burst out laughing.

  “No!” Hilda gasped, briefly turning her head.

  “That's an oddly specific example,” Hilbert grinned. “Pretty stupid, too.”

  “Yeah, well, Nate here thought it would be fun to piss off territorial bugs,” Hugh teased, nudging Nate’s knee.

  “We were only seven or eight!” Nate shot back, fighting a grin. “Besides, it was fun. Admit it.”

  “Yeah… alright,” Hugh conceded.

  “You should tell ‘em how you got Scraggy, Bert,” Hilda nudged him with her elbow.

  “Oh, don't start with that,” Hilbert groaned, sliding down into his seat until his knees hit the dashboard. “I was six! I didn't know any better. And it was Rosa's fault!”

  “Don't put that on her!” Hilda defended.

  “Okay, now I'm curious,” Hugh said, straightening up.

  Hilbert sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Alright, so, Rosa and I used to butt heads a lot when we were kids.”

  “She didn't like him,” Hilda added bluntly.

  “Yeah, not one bit. Anyway, we were all playing outside, and there was a flock of Pidove that I thought would be fun to chase around. Create some chaos. You know, because they’re stupid. Well, Little Miss Goody-Goody-Two-Shoes Rosa didn't like me scaring them.”

  “Because it was mean!” Hilda yelled over the music.

  “Don't interrupt,” Hilbert said, waving a hand at her. “So, I argued back, saying, ‘It's just for fun. I'm not hurting them or anything,’ something like that.”

  “Sounds kind of fun,” Nate chuckled.

  “Right?”

  “You're horrible!” Hilda eyed him through the mirror.

  “Anyway, Rosa got all huffy and said, ‘You should be nicer to Pokémon and blah blah blah I'm a princess.’”

  Nate couldn't help but laugh at the imitation. Hilda tried hard to maintain her scowl but let out an audible huff of amusement.

  “So, I took her up on that. I decided, ‘Fine, I'll be nice for once.’ I look around and I see this wild Scraggy waddling around, clutching its loose skin. You know how they do.”

  “Right, they pull it up to protect themselves,” Hugh commented.

  “Yes, well, genius Hilbert here didn't know that,” Hilda giggled.

  Hilbert rolled his eyes. “I thought Scraggy had lost its belt. So, wanting to prove to Rosa that I can be nice, I went to offer Scraggy my own.”

  “Wait… what?” Nate snorted.

  “Yeah,” Hilda interjected excitedly, taking a hand off the wheel to gesture. “Little Bert came to Rosa and me and said, ‘Hilda, Rosa, that poor Scraggy lost its belt. I'm going to help it.’ Then he marched over there, took his own belt off, and tried to wrap up the Scraggy like he was playing dress-up.”

  “And what do you think happened next?” Hilbert asked matter-of-factly.

  “A Headbutt?” Nate guessed.

  “Right in the gut!” Hilda slapped the steering wheel.

  “Immediately knocked me onto my butt,” Hilbert said. “The runt ran off and stole my belt, too. I had to walk back home holding my pants up.”

  “Kind of ironic, isn't it?” Hilda giggled uncontrollably.

  “Shut up, Da,” Hilbert sighed, though he was smiling. “My dad ended up tracking it down and catching it. He gave Scraggy to me afterward, and that's how I got my first partner. Ever since, we've been good friends.”

  “You've had Scraggy for that long?” Hugh asked, sounding impressed.

  “Yup. Been about ten years now.”

  “I guess it shows. You battled pretty well with Scraggy.”

  “What about you, Hilda? Who was your first Pokémon?” Nate asked.

  “Mine was Cottonee. She's been with my family for years, and I took it upon myself to raise her as my own,” Hilda answered.

  “So, how long have you both known each other?” Hugh asked.

  Hilbert let out a single, loud “Ha!”

  “Literally our whole lives,” he stated proudly.

  “Literally,” Hilda added under her breath.

  “What does that mean?” Nate asked. He found their dynamic charming, but unusually synchronized.

  “It means our moms are insane!” Hilda exaggerated.

  Hilbert began to explain gently. “You see, our moms are BFFs. They both got pregnant around the same time, purely by coincidence, and so they planned to give birth to me and Hilda on the same day.”

  “That's… weird,” Hugh remarked.

  “I know!” Hilda shouted. “The crazy part is that they actually did it! And now I'm stuck sharing a birthday with this loser!”

  “So, yeah,” Hilbert said, leaning back in his seat. “We've been besties since day one.”

  “Rosa’s my bestie,” Hilda corrected, holding a finger in the air. “But you're a close second, I guess…”

  Hilbert turned to her and gave her a massive, ear-to-ear grin. She shoved his face away with her palm, though she was smiling back at him.

  An hour later, the concrete greys of the city had faded into the vibrant greens of the mountains. The sharp angles of office buildings and asphalt were replaced by dense timber, lush grass, and the calming rush of distant rivers. Despite being only a few miles from civilization, the outskirts of Nuvema felt wild and untamed.

  “Take a breath of that sweet, sweet wilderness,” Hilda said, inhaling a lungful of air as she exited the van. She had parked the van in a clearing off a singular dirt path, the tires crunching over gravel.

  “Smells like Deerling if ya ask me,” Hilbert declared in a horrific southern drawl as he hopped out.

  “You think we'll actually find some?” Nate wondered, stepping onto the soft ground. Looking into the tree line, the forest was alive. Spinarak webs glistened between branches, Patrat scattered dry leaves as they scurried away, and a Sandshrew dug at the roots of an oak tree, scavenging for fallen berries.

  “I reckon they're out there somewhere,” Hilbert said, maintaining the bad accent.

  “Luckily, we don't have to guess,” Hugh replied. “C'mon out, Tepig!”

  Tepig materialized in a flash of white light, immediately rooting around in the dirt and sniffing the air.

  “Way to get right on the mission, Hugh. Didn't even spare any time to enjoy the outdoors,” Hilda remarked, hands on her hips.

  “We're trying to get four Deerling. It's not going to be easy, so there's no time to waste,” Hugh replied coolly. He reached into his jacket to retrieve the velvet pouch Juniper had given him. He held up the vials, the liquid inside catching the sunlight.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  “The green one,” Hilda pointed. “That's the summer scent.”

  “I know,” Hugh said, putting the others back. Nate wondered if he was lying to save face.

  “Alright, Tepig, see if you can track some Deerling.” He popped the cork and placed the vial under Tepig's nose. The fire pig took a few deep sniffs, sneezed once, and then immediately perked up, tail wagging furiously.

  “Wow, that was quick!” Nate remarked.

  “Just like at Flocessy Ranch,” Hugh grinned, standing up. “Okay Tepig, show us what you got!”

  Tepig took off into the brush, deeper into the forest, with the four Trainers jogging to keep up.

  They tracked the Pokémon for ten minutes, weaving through ancient trunks and hopping over mossy logs. Tepig would occasionally backtrack, circle a patch of dirt, and refocus the scent. Finally, the pig stopped at the base of a rise, nose pressed to the ground, pacing back and forth with quiet intensity.

  “Did it lose the scent?” Hilbert asked, catching his breath.

  Tepig grunted and looked back at Hugh, letting out a low, warning huff.

  “No, I think quite the opposite,” Hugh whispered, crouching next to his partner. “What is it, buddy?”

  Tepig stared toward a natural ridge covered in thick hedges. Beyond lay the sound of running water.

  Nate crept up the hill, keeping low to the ground. He reached the hedge line and carefully parted the leaves, making a gap just large enough to see through.

  Down below, a crystal-clear stream cut through a sun-drenched valley. And there, gathered by the water, were dozens of Deerling. Some were grazing on the lush bank, while others rested in the dappled shade of the trees. It was a picture of perfect tranquility.

  Woah.

  “Hey, hotshot! What do you see?” Hilda whispered as loudly as she dared.

  “Deerling!” Nate whispered back, sliding down a few inches. “A whole herd at a stream!”

  “How many?” Hugh asked.

  Nate looked back through the leaves. The green coats of the Summer Form Deerling blended perfectly with the grass.

  “More than I can count,” he replied.

  “Woah,” Hilda said, dropping the whisper volume. “And you said it wouldn’t be easy,” she said, eyeing Hugh.

  Nate slid back down the hill to regroup. “So, what's the plan?”

  “Well, we could just charge right through and throw as many Poké Balls as possible,” Hilbert suggested, cracking his knuckles.

  “Bert, that's stupid. They'll just scatter at the first sight of us,” Hilda shot back.

  “Deerling are skittish,” Hugh agreed, crossing his arms. “Did you see any way we could get to them unnoticed?”

  “No,” Nate admitted. “It’s too open from the top of the hill down to the water.”

  “Well, why don't we send one of our Pokémon to act as a decoy?” Hilda suggested.

  “Huh?” Hugh grunted.

  “You said there was a stream, right? So if one of our Pokémon acts like it's just going to get some water, they might not run away.”

  “Okay, but then what?”

  “Then, we order an attack causing confusion, and that's when we step in to catch them.”

  Nate paused, running the scenario in his head.

  It's not terrible…

  “I don't know, Hilda,” Hugh said doubtfully.

  “What, do you have a better idea?”

  Nate and Hugh looked at each other.

  “Better than charging straight for them,” Nate shrugged.

  “Alright, fine, we'll try it. But whose Pokémon do we send?”

  “How about Cottonee?” Hilda smiled. “She's cute and doesn't pose a threat.”

  “Cottonee wouldn't be able to cause a big enough distraction, though,” Hilbert pointed out.

  “Sure, and your Boldore would be too slow and scary!” Hilda retorted.

  “How about Riolu?” Nate said aloud.

  The three turned to face him. “Riolu is small and not threatening. Plus, it's a Fighting-type, which will be good against Deerling's Normal-type.”

  Both Hilda and Hilbert agreed with his reasoning.

  “Alright, Riolu it is,” Hugh proclaimed.

  Nate summoned Riolu to his side. He knelt, locking eyes with the aura Pokémon. “Do you think you're up for it?”

  “Don't worry, I'll be fine,” Riolu's voice resonated in Nate's mind, clear and calm.

  “The rest of you should have your Pokémon ready,” Nate directed.

  Hilbert called Scraggy to his side while Hilda summoned Mienfoo. Hugh kept Tepig ready.

  Three Fighting-types and one Fire-type. Should be easy.

  The four trainers crept to the top of the hill, stopping just behind the hedge line.

  “Okay Riolu, you're up,” Nate whispered.

  Riolu slipped quietly through the foliage, moving with a predator's grace.

  “I made it. It seems they haven't noticed me yet,” Riolu projected.

  “Okay. Just casually make your way to the stream. Don't alert them,” Nate thought the instruction, knowing Riolu would hear.

  “I won't.”

  Nate watched through the leaves as Riolu walked down the slope and approached the water. A few Deerling popped their heads up, ears swiveling toward the newcomer, but seeing no threat, they returned to grazing.

  “Seems to be working,” Riolu's voice came again. Despite the distance, the telepathic link was as strong as if he were standing right next to Nate.

  “Get in as close as possible. You'll need to draw their attention away from us when we come running.”

  Riolu walked purposefully among the herd. None of them seemed to mind his presence.

  “I don't sense any fear among them,” Riolu noted.

  “What do you sense?” Nate wondered.

  There was a pause. Then, a wave of emotion washed over Nate. Not his own, but a projection from Riolu. It felt warm, like sunlight on skin.

  “Joy. Community. Safety. These Deerling are happy here. This is their home.”

  Nate froze. The words hit him harder than a physical blow. The warmth of the sensation clashed violently with the cold, tactical plan they were about to execute.

  Was he robbing these Deerling of their freedom? These Deerling were free. And here he was, about to shatter that peace.

  But… that's our job. That's the way things are.

  People and Pokémon live together in harmony. Capturing them and raising them was part of that cycle. It had never occurred to him that Pokémon could live truly independently from humans. It wasn't the way he'd been taught. And yet, the feeling of safety radiating from the valley was undeniable.

  “I'm in position and ready to attack,” Riolu reported, his voice devoid of the emotion he had just relayed.

  Nate swallowed hard. “Okay. Force Palm on my command.”

  “Riolu's in position. Get ready to run,” Nate whispered to the team, though his voice felt hollow.

  “How will Riolu know to initiate?” Hugh asked, tensing his legs.

  “He will. Trust me.”

  The team exchanged confused glances. Nate ignored them, closing his eyes to focus on Riolu’s signature.

  “What does that mean?” Hilbert whispered so loudly that Hilda slapped a hand over his mouth.

  Nate pushed the guilt down, burying it under the mission objective.

  “Initiate attack. Force Palm!”

  Below, the tranquility shattered. Riolu spun, striking the nearest Deerling with a palm thrust that sent a shockwave through the air. The Deerling was knocked flat. The herd jumped in confusion, not knowing they were being ambushed.

  “Now!” Nate yelled.

  He burst through the hedges, sprinting down the hill with the others hot on his heels.

  “Tepig, Flame Charge!” Hugh's voice roared.

  Nate felt the heat as the fireball tore past him, striking a distracted Deerling. Instinct took over. Nate grabbed a Poké Ball from his belt and hurled it at a blur of green fur. He didn't stop to see if it shook, he just kept running, throwing another ball at the Deerling Riolu had downed, and a third at a straggler confused by the noise.

  It was pandemonium. The herd was in full chaos, sprinting in every direction. Hilda and Hilbert were shouting commands, Mienfoo and Scraggy were cutting off escape routes, and the air was filled with the sounds of frightened cries.

  In seconds, the valley was empty. The herd had vanished into the deep woods.

  Nate skidded to a halt next to Riolu. The silence that followed was deafening.

  “The Deerling have all fled. Were you able to catch any?” Riolu asked, looking up at him.

  “I… I don't know,” Nate breathed, adrenaline fading into a pit of unease.

  He looked back at the field of trampled grass. Broken Poké Balls lay scattered like debris, but one ball remained intact.

  Only one?

  He walked over to a single ball lying in the grass. He picked it up. It felt cold and heavy in his hand.

  “Did you get any?” Nate asked Hugh, who was kicking at a dud ball.

  Hugh shook his head, looking frustrated. “No. Not one.”

  “Where are Hilda and Hilbert?”

  “They chased the herd into the trees. Hopefully, they got some.”

  Just then, the duo marched out from the tree line, looking disheveled.

  “Well, I hope you boys got luckier than I did,” Hilda shouted, brushing twigs from her hair.

  “You didn't catch any either?” Hugh called back.

  “Nope,” she sighed, approaching them. “Zero, zilch, nada.”

  Hugh and Nate exchanged a disappointed look.

  “I got two, though!” Hilbert proclaimed proudly, holding up two shrunken spheres.

  “Nice,” Nate said, letting out a breath. “I was able to get one.”

  “Then that just leaves one more!” Hilda winked, offering a high-five. “Nice job!”

  Nate forced a smile and slapped her hand.

  “Alright, well, guess we better get looking,” Hugh said, reaching for the tracking vials again.

  “C'mon Hugh, can't we get a break?” Hilda groaned, slumping her shoulders.

  Hugh looked at the group, then at the sun high overhead. “Yeah, okay. We'll catch a quick breather first.”

  “Thank you!”

  The team set up a small camp by the water. Hilbert broke out a box of granola bars, and they released their Pokémon to rest.

  Nate sat with Hugh in the tall grass, watching Hilda and Hilbert play with the Pokémon by the stream.

  Nate looked down at the Poké Ball in his hands. He rubbed his thumb over the smooth metal surface.

  Joy. Community. Safety.

  The words echoed in his mind, refusing to fade.

  “Hey, Hugh,” Nate said quietly.

  “Yeah?” Hugh replied, lying back with his hands behind his head, eyes closed.

  “Do you think Deerling is happy?”

  “What?” Hugh sat up, squinting at Nate. “What are you talking about?”

  “I mean… It was free. Roaming the wild. And now it's stuck in this ball.” He held the sphere up. It reflected his own distorted face.

  Like a prison.

  “Sure, I guess. But Deerling is technically your Pokémon now. You caught it.”

  “But just because it's mine doesn't mean it wants to be mine.”

  “What are you saying?” Hugh eyed him, his expression turning serious.

  “I just… something about this doesn't feel right. Like I robbed Deerling of its home, y'know?”

  Hugh stayed silent for a long moment, watching the water flow.

  Was it worth it?

  “I get what you're saying,” Hugh replied, his voice gentle but firm. “But that's what Trainers do. We raise the Pokémon we catch to bring out their fullest potential. Pokémon trust us to provide for them, nurture them, and train them. It’s a partnership.”

  Nate remained unconvinced, staring blankly at the device in his hand.

  Hugh continued, “It's our responsibility to decide whether our Pokémon are better with us or out in the wild. Sometimes Trainers have to make the hard decision to release their Pokémon. But usually? We give them a better life.”

  “How will I know if what I'm doing is best for Deerling?” Nate asked, finally meeting Hugh’s gaze.

  Hugh smiled, gesturing to the ball. “It's obvious. Why don't you let Deerling out and see for yourself?”

  Nate blinked. “Right…”

  Why didn't I think of that?

  Nate pressed the release button. With a flash of white light, the Deerling materialized. It shook its head, ears flopping, and looked around with wide, curious eyes. It spotted Nate and walked up apprehensively.

  “Hey, Deerling…” Nate said softly, extending a hand.

  Deerling sniffed his fingers, gave a small, cheerful cry, and immediately began grazing on the lush grass at his feet.

  “Looks happy to me,” Hugh remarked, leaning back on his elbows.

  “I guess so,” Nate murmured.

  “And if you're still not convinced, take a look over at Hilbert,” Hugh pointed.

  Nate turned. Hilbert was ankle-deep in the stream, pants rolled up and barefoot, chasing his two new Deerling while Scraggy splashed water at them. The Pokémon were leaping and bouncing around him, radiating the same joy Nate had sensed earlier, only now, it was directed at a human.

  “Pokémon naturally bond with their Trainers as soon as they are caught,” Hugh said. “It's almost like they become new Pokémon themselves. Remember how Psyduck attacked us after we woke it up? Then, after I caught it, it went right back to sleep like nothing happened.”

  “Yeah…” Nate nodded slowly.

  Hugh stood up, dusting off his pants. “I don't know exactly how it works, but people and Pokémon are made to coexist. Just like how these Deerling are happy to be with us.”

  Nate watched his Deerling. It looked up at him, chewing a mouthful of clover, completely undisturbed. It didn't look like a prisoner. It looked… content.

  “C'mon,” Hugh said, offering a hand to pull Nate up. “I think break time is over. Let's get our last Deerling.”