A.N: Sorry for the slight delay, had some real life appointments to take care of and lost track of time. Next chapter will be the meeting with Lucian and Cynthia.
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“Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop—” Ethan chanted monotone with his legs straight, creating grooves into the mushy snowy ground as Snorlax continued to push forward. With some effort, Ethan pressed his back into Snorlax’s gut as he tried his best to stop his big-eater from continuing forth to his inevitable defeat. Of course, Snorlax just ignored his feeble attempts at halting him. Ethan might have weighed a good amount to his other pokemon, but to snorlax he was like a pebble in his path.
He didn’t want to outright say what he thought would happen if Snorlax and the little Girafarig came to blows. Snorlax was a strong species of pokemon. To that, there was no doubt… but Girafarig, even unevolved, was the pokemon of an Elite 4 member. Snorlax had just evolved not a few days past. To go immediately into battle without having learned any higher powered moves was a fool's errand.
“Snorlax, please stop. I am fine. Everything is fine.” He pleaded, only to continuously be ignored. “Don’t make me recall you into your ball. I don’t want to do that. I didn’t get this special ball for you for this reason.”
Snorlax must have been at the end of its patience with Ethan’s attempts to stall him as he immediately stopped and threw a mighty tantrum. Snorlax flailed his arms, stomped his legs, and gesticulated his wrath alongside uproarious shouts of his name. He was creating a commotion and was frustrated. Ethan barely noticed those around him seeking shelter and removing themselves from the raging Snorlax before them. His focus was on his friend who was having a problem.
“Snorlax… SNORLAX!” Ethan screamed in return, causing his friend to stare at him with simmering eyes of anger. He pointed a finger in warning, eyes narrowing. “You aren’t mad at me, so stop giving me those eyes.” Snorlax opened his mouth to roar and argue, but Ethan stopped him in his tracks. “No. You will listen to what I have to say. I am fine! You are fine! Everyone is fine!”
Snorlax huffed and puffed, eyes still tinged red and bloodshot from rage. He didn’t scare Ethan at all. “You want to go and try to beat up Girafarig?” Snorlax glared and didn’t answer. “Well? Answer me!” He raised his voice.
Snorlax nodded eagerly, causing Ethan to frown. “Why?” It was a simple question, but one that caused Snorlax’s eye to twitch. “A few days ago you would not have done this. Hell, before you went—” Ethan cut himself off as it all occurred to him.
“Buddy,” Ethan stepped closer and placed a firm hand on Snorlax’s arm. “Did you get mad when you heard that I was taken, or were you mad as soon as you woke up? Be honest.”
Smeargle, who had been following along a good way back, barked out his name and nodded quickly. Suddenly, Snorlax’s angry face gave way to frustration and confusion. His bloodshot eyes blinked as he stumbled back, mind warring with what he felt. Ethan was pretty sure he had his answer.
“Oh, buddy.” Ethan came forward and did his best to have Snorlax sit down, throwing Snorlax’s arm over his shoulder and everything. It didn't do much, as Snorlax could have squashed him, but the gentle motions helped Snorlax sit in his mild confusion. Once sat in the middle of the small walkway they’ve taken over, Ethan stood in front of Snorlax and gently grabbed his cheeks, turning his head to make Snorlax look at his understanding face. “Your species has a big temper when they wake up unexpectedly. Everything is okay. Trust me on that.”
Snorlax was still very confused as most of his anger and rage continued to fade, but he knew that he trusted Ethan’s word and feelings on the matter. Ethan had never lied to his pokemon willingly, and he wasn’t about to start now. Slowly but surely, Snorlax calmed down fully until he was back to his normal self, still mildly confused at his emotions. Ethan unclipped his pokeball and showed it to him. “Lets get you back into your ball for now. Okay? You can go back to sleep and I’ll check on you in a bit.”
With a glance at his ball, Snorlax nodded with a slight hint of embarrassment. Ethan felt that he was recognising the commotion they’d made and how his actions looked. “I’m not mad at you. You have a lot to learn about who you are now.” Ethan clicked the button on the pokeball, expanding it to its full size, then recalled Snorlax into it.
With a mighty sigh, Ethan shrunk it down and clipped it back onto his belt. As he started to walk back to the tutoring field under the eyes of many trainers who’d seem they’re little commotion, Smeargle joined his side. He didn’t even need to look at Smeargle to know what he was thinking. “You did the right thing.”
Ethan felt Smeargle’s furry hand grab his for comfort. He gave it a good squeeze. “If I ever go missing like that again and he’s asleep, you wake him up every single time. You understand?”
“Smear…” The quiet affirmation reached his ears as they broke onto the field once more.
“You did everything right. Now, let’s get back to work and put this behind us.” Ethan released Smeargle’s hand and gave his painter a rough head rub, breaking the tense atmosphere.
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Hours later after many hours of more individualized tutoring, Ethan was done for the day. The feisty Shieldon had only stayed for half the time, having been called away by his trainer to go help out with the excavation of Wayward Cave. That left the rest of the time allotted to Absol, who progressed nicely in learning Flamethrower. She’d finally gotten the feel for fire-type energies and had begun releasing flicking embers; not enough for it to be a real Ember, but very good progress nonetheless.
Ethan watched as Absol sauntered over to her trainer, who’d just arrived to pick her up. They each gave a wave of greeting to one another, but no words were spoken.
After releasing a breath of contentment for a job well done, Ethan gathered Smeargle and left to find Bill’s tent and a warm meal. As they walked side by side off the field, Ethan spared a glance to the side, spotting Gloom fast asleep. Once again, Gloom was bundled up and warm, ready to be plucked from the ground the next day.
“So,” Ethan started, drawing Smeargle’s attention. “You spot any pokemon you'd like to ask to sketch?”
Smeargle took a moment to think, before see-sawing his hand back and forth. “A trainer maybe?” That earned him a yes. “Well, tonight you can tell Chatot and she will tell me. We’ll go ask them soon enough.”
As they stepped into a small crossroad, only distinguished by mushed and muddy snow and a faint bit of space between tents, a yellow ball zoomed forward and barreled into his unsuspecting legs. With an ungraceful trumble, Ethan landed square on his back into the mucky sloppy snow as Smeargle honed in on…
“Pika…” A Pikach—No… THE Pikachu groaned and whined its name; high pitched and squeaky. Ethan did not know how he knew that this Pikachu was THE Pikachu, but he did. A pit instantly formed in his stomach.
“Smeargle,” Ethan hastily spoke, as he scrambled with all his might to stand and flee. “It’s time to leave. Right. Now.”
“Pikachu!? Oh! There you are!” The dreadful voice of Ash Ketchum echoed out briefly before his troubling form breached the small path between the tents into the crossroads. Ethan prayed with all his might that he’d be ignored and blessedly forgotten by the protagonist of Pokemon, but it was a foolish dream.
“Mr. Reed?” Ash questioned, surprised at his appearance but having no trouble recalling his name. An ill omen, if Ethan had ever heard one. This was it. This was the dreaded episode coming to haunt him. One which he had no knowledge to draw from to prepare himself.
Seeing as there was no way out of this incoming apocalyptic disaster of a conversation, Ethan forced a smile as he brushed himself off. “Hello, Ash. Seems like your Pikachu got away from you.”
Take the change of topic. Take the change of topic.Take the change of topic. Ethan chanted in his head.
“Yeah, he does that sometimes. Ain’t that right, Pikachu?”
Lightning fast, Pikachu deftly crawled up Ash to perch himself on his trainer’s shoulder. The lightning god held its head in mild pain once settled. Ash then returned back to the first thing on his mind. “What are you doing here?”
“Cynthia asked me to come and tutor some pokemon to help out.” Ethan closed his eyes, accepting his fate.
“Really? Brock, May, and I were just traveling and stumbled across the broken bridge. We must have missed the summons! It’s a good thing we were close by!” Ash enthusiastically explained his sudden appearance. He talked about some of his new pokemon and what had transpired since their last meeting…
“Yes…” Ethan swallowed. “What luck you have.” Ethan saddled right up to Smeargle and gave him a little push to get going. “While I’d love to stay and catch up, I have a meeting with Lucian and Cynthia tonight and need to care for my pokemon.”
Seeing that they were both about to leave, Ash reigned in his enthusiasm and nodded. “Oh! Sorry to keep you and sorry for Pikachu’s little tackle. I’ll see you tonight then!”
Ethan practically shoved Smeargle to get a move on, who was confused as all hell by Ethan’s emotional turmoil. Only about ten seconds past once they escaped that Ethan mentally playbacked Ash’s final parting words.
“Fuck.”