The Wild Man Of Pokemon

I hurt.

Did someone think me dead and put me on a funeral pyre? My flesh burns, cold fire flashed through my nerves. What did I do to feel this way?

Oh right.

I decided overthrowing a tyrant who wanted to kill everything on the mountain was the perfect way to spend my day. Yay me. Tomorrow, I am quitting and taking a long vacation. No more playing hero.

Opening my eyes, I am greeted to a familiar ceiling. Our original den. I have stared at that dirt roof so many times, I know every granule by heart.

'You're awake.' A kind voice called.

I g.r.o.a.n.e.d.

'Don't move around, your body is just waiting for an excuse to fall apart.' She chided.

'Will I live?'

'Barely.'

'That's nice.'

'So I have been told.'

Snorting, a smug grin plastered my face.

'We won.'

'Yes we did. Now all you have to do is get better, I heard everyone has been making requests for you to make something.'

'What?!?'

'Apparently, Golduck was bragging to his compatriots about you making him some earmuffs, word spread and now everyone wants something.'

'Great.' I said trying to use as much sarcasm as possible.

'On another note, Nincada is going to be evolving here soon.'

'Oh really?'

'Yes, he has nearly gathered all the energy he needs.'

Evolution was a topic I was immensely curious about. According to everyone I asked, evolution was different experience for each species. Nincada for example, has to absorb enough energy from the ground in order to evolve. Golduck on the other hand must attain control over its headaches, thus gaining control of their psychic power.

It threw me for a loop that evolution was not based on fighting prowess, but then again it makes sense. There are evolved Pokemon who aren't that strong compared to trained unevolved Pokemon. There are still conditions that have to be met that could be correlated to strength, but it was not the only method.

Nincada was also an odd example. It has the capability to evolve into two Pokemon at once. Shedinja and Ninjask. Nincada doesn't know much as he could never get the details from ones who actually evolved. They tended to leave soon after evolution.

'Does he know how long he has left?'

'A few more days or so.'

A chirp came from his little hole in the wall.

'Don't talk about me when I am right here!' He moodily stated.

'Good to see you too.'

'Hmph.'

'What made you so cranky?'

'Evolution pains. I believe humans have something similar as they start to m.a.t.u.r.e.' Am said.

I shivered. I guess Pokemon have to deal with hormones to.

'My apologies for being so ins.e.n.s.i.t.i.v.e.' I said.

'It fine, I just want to get this over with. No one ever mentions how much evolving sucks.'

I tried to laugh only to realize how much it hurt.

'Ow.'

'Why don't you get some rest. The sooner you get better, the sooner I can get the people to stop coming by.' Am suggested.

'Okay.' I replied, already plotting my revenge on Golduck.

...............…

Am POV

Sometimes, I just don't know what to do with him. His curiosity was insatiable, he lead a rebellion, and his body is bizarre. I took him in for healing, expecting to extract poison, only to find that his body absorbed it. Even now, that poison was being used to heal himself faster.

Occasionally, I have an urge to poke around in his mind, but I hold back as that's a violation of trust. Perhaps he'll let me if I ask nicely.

'Hello dear. How is he?' My wonderful husband walked in from the spare room.

'He just fell back asleep.'

'That's a shame. I wanted to show him the materials we were able to harvest.'

'That can come later dear.'

'I know.'

We watch him sleep for a while longer. It aches my heart to know he will leave one day. Oh well. Best to head to bed. Dear hubby has been feeling anxious lately.

...............…..

The weeks flew by as I recovered. A month and a half of bed rest and I am ready to face the world. My first visit was to the river. Am and Da would bath me in a floating bubble, but nothing beats taking a bath on my own terms.

The water was crisp and the leaves were turning colors. Autumn was approaching and I was ecstatic at the prospect. It was just the right temperature for me. Looking at my reflection, I see how much I changed.

My hair was turning midnight purple and wild not unlike that of Madara Uchiha. Rose gold eyes burned in my sockets and I grew a few inches. Lean muscle was framed by the scars of battle. Lichtenberg figure adorned my calf, angry red pock marks from Toxicroak puckered my skin, Tiger stripes dotted around my torso. I would be confused for a war veteran if I weren't a kid.

Climbing out, I got dressed and returned to the den only to find a line going out from the tree. Pokemon of all shapes and sizes were gathered.

'Whats going on here?' I questioned.

None even gave me the time to look my way.

I had a sinking feeling about this. Doing the smart thing, I slinked away to the underground bunker. No one used it anymore, but it still served as my office. However, there was a line there to.

Sighing in frustration, I go to my old training ground. Fortunately, Honedge and Da had a similar idea.

'Hey what's going on at the den?' I proded.

Stopping their spar, Honedge answered, 'They are waiting for you. Remember how we said people were asking for you to make them things, well we held them back saying you couldn't do anything until you were better.' I still had pains from that battle, 'Well we told them you were better today so that's probably why their there. Surprised you're here actually.'

'You did what!' He flinched.

Oh just you wait Da, you and Golduck will be facing my wrath here soon. My thoughts must have been showing because he shivered.

'We are going to have words later.' I no longer blessed him with my gaze as I looked to Honedge.

'Want to go a round? I want to practice my hand to hand since I can't seem to get my spear for some reason.' The sarcasm was evident.

'Sure why not. It will be interesting to see what you come up with.' He replied.

We went at it for several hours before I called a quits. My body was still catching up after being stuck doing minimal movement for the past while. Still the muscle burn was nice.

'Where's Croagunk? I didn't see him this morning.' I asked. The little guy has been in and out of the den lately. He has been training from what Am tells me. The two have gotten close over the last few months.

'Training somewhere. He is dedicated, I'll give him that. Still not as strong as the invincible I, but well on his way.'

'Good. At least he is doing better. I am glad I no longer have to go rough on his training.'

'You did what you had to. Two months was not a long time to get any reasonable amount of skill.' Da placated.

'I know, I just hate having to be that way with him.'

'Understandable.'

'So what happened to Toxicroaks corpse?'

'Honedge and I dismantled it. We saved the skin and claws. The poison was extracted and kept in a clay jar, and his bones were preserved for you in the shop.'

'Perfect. I had a few ideas what I wanted to do with them.'

'Like what?' Honedge inquired.

'A cloak for starters, then possibly turn the stingers into a trophy or something. My staff will last a while longer.'

'Fair enough.'

Glancing at the sun, I said, 'Lets go find Croagunk, its getting late.'

Took a while, but we found him punching a tree. Watching him, I could already tell a major difference to a month and a half ago. His moves were smoother and held more intent. Still far from mastery, but better then it was.

'You're getting better at that.' I said, startling him.

'Don't scare me like that!' He shouted.

'I'll keep that in mind. How are you doing?' I asked.

'Fine I guess. Hard to focus without you teaching me.'

'You'll get there eventually, I will start training again with everyone, but that's for later. Lets get lunch!' I pumped my fist in the air.

When we arrived at the den, the line was still blocking the entrance.

'Maybe we should deal with the line first.' Da stated.

'Agreed.' We all chimed.

Turned out to be more of a challenge then expected. I had to listen to each of there requests and then make a mental note of it for later. After the first ten; however, I had to write the requests on a clay tablet Da retrieved for me. There were enough requests to last a year. The only consolation I had was Golducks and Da impending doom. Revenge was sweet.

...............…..

Eleven months of back breaking work and training was my reward for freeing this mountain. Everyday, I was making earmuffs or hammocks or battling upstart Pokemon and don't even get me started on Am's obsession with egg care.

Oh yeah. I am going to be a big brother.

Am and Da decided they needed company after I leave. Honedge and Croagunk had agreed to come with me on my journey.

On other news, Nincada evolved and boy was it traumatizing. Imagine if all of a sudden, my cute little bug type suddenly split open as a glowing mass emerges from his body and then flies off as a Ninjask. Then imagine the corpse left behind start to stitch itself together and turns a rotten brown. A halo appears out of nowhere and up rises a new Shedinja. This happened just before we were going to sleep.

I still have nightmares.

Anyway, turns out that when a Nincada evolves into both Pokemon, the original consciousnesses was put into the body most aligned to its soul. Our Nincada, the pacifist he was, got put into the Shedinja body, hence why Ninjask flew away.

He also agreed to travel with us.

I digress.

It was what I assumed to be October and I was ready to leave the nest. Decked out in an improved Scolipede armor with a Toxicroak robe, the culmination of my crafting skill. Honedge floated around in a new sheath and Croagunk wore his fathers stingers on a necklace. Looking around the farewell party, I sighed in satisfaction. Three years in this new world and I finally felt that this place was home.

Everything was surreal. Having parents, a family, and friends. It was nice.

We ate berries, we talked, and tears were shed. As the evening closed, we all slept in the clearing of the party.

As morning came, I woke my companions and vanished into the morning twilight.

...............…..

Shedinja had taken on the role of scout. He was never much of a fighter so the role was perfect for him. Reaching the base of the mountain, we waited. Not even moments later, two floated down beside us.

'I am going to miss you.' I told the two cat like Pokemon. Tears glistened from my eyes.

Four soft arms wrapped around my small frame.

'We will miss you to. Always remember that you are welcome here anytime.' Am soothed.

'Yes, I know the other groups will love for you take up the mantel of leader again.' Da chided

'Haha, not on your life "new leader". Be sure not to croak from the job you old cat.' I responded

With a blood vessel about to burst, he said, 'Old my keister! I will be the best leader this mountain will ever see. Besides, you're older then me by years.' I got around to telling Am and Da about my past. There were many tears shed that day.

'Ah but I don't have wrinkles. I am the epitome of youth.' I laughed.

'When you do come back, you will be an older brother, so don't be gone long.' Am stated.

'Of course.'

'Good.'

Hugging everyone one final time, we left the forest onto the dirt road. Walking into the rising sun, we wondered of the adventure that awaited us next time.