Reaching the familiar door of his home in the mid-evening light, Atlas opened it and stepped inside, the old wood groaning behind him. Buneary jumped from his shoulder, her paws making a soft thud as she landed on the table, her gaze sweeping over the small, run-down shack.
Atlas moved to a closet in the corner, a flimsy door that barely hung on its hinges. He opened it to reveal his meager collection of clothes and, at the bottom, a battered backpack. A heavy sigh escaped him.
"Well, it's not like I have much to take with me to begin with," he muttered, his voice echoing in the small room. He didn't just feel the words, he felt their truth, the weight of a life lived in solitude and poverty.
Buneary watched him, a pulse of thoughtful curiosity running through their link. 'It's odd. Having spent all my life in this area, and now… we're leaving it,' she sent.
"Yeah," Atlas agreed, the single word carrying a mix of sadness and resolve. "But it's for the better. We'll be able to explore the world, battle other people and pokemon… and maybe even right some wrongs." The end of his speech was tinged with a deep ache, a flash of the pain of his past. A gentle wave of sympathy and understanding washed over him from Buneary, a silent promise that she would be there with him.
A thick silence fell once more, but this time, it was a comfortable silence. With a deep breath, Atlas began to pack, his movements deliberate. He folded his small collection of clothes, packed a couple of cans of food, and carefully rolled up his sleeping bag, placing it and a well-used utility knife into the worn backpack. He wasn't just packing to leave, he was packing for a new life.
Finishing their packing, Atlas made a simple dinner for himself and Buneary with what was left of his meager pantry. After they ate, they cuddled into bed, the quiet comfort of their companionship allowing Atlas to finally rest well, no longer alone in the cold nights.
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Waking up the next morning, Atlas noticed that Buneary had fallen off his chest and was now curled up against his side. He ever so slightly maneuvered around her to get up, preparing himself for their upcoming journey.
Buneary woke up not long after, and they shared a quick breakfast. Finally ready to leave, Atlas swung the backpack onto his shoulders, with Buneary jumping onto her usual spot on his shoulder.
Before leaving through the door, Atlas took one last look back at the small shack, remembering the few memories he had there, the place that had sheltered him through storms and heat.
"I'm going to miss this place, you know," Atlas said to Buneary, his voice heavy with a deep-seated sadness. "Despite it being the result of being left behind."
A soft, gentle warmth pulsed through their link. 'But you're not left behind anymore,' she sent, the words a quiet, powerful promise. 'Now, you're with me.'
Atlas felt a slight blush creep onto his cheeks. He quickly turned to face the door, hoping she didn't notice. She didn't seem to, her focus already on the adventure ahead. He pushed open the door and stepped out into the bright morning light, ready for what came next.
Atlas took one last look at the familiar streets and alleys, a final farewell before he and Buneary turned towards the path to Veridia City. But as he rounded a corner, he froze. His arms tensed, his legs felt shaky, and his heart began to pound against his ribs.
A wave of fear, sharp and cold, hit Buneary through their bond. Her small body stiffened on his shoulder. 'Atlas? What's wrong? What happened?' she sent, her voice filled with confusion and worry. Then she followed his gaze, and her confusion turned to a burning, focused rage. 'Are they... are they the ones responsible for what happened to you yesterday?' Malice radiated from her, a palpable heat through the link.
"They are," Atlas whispered, his voice barely audible, still frozen in place. "But we have to go. We shouldn't... we don't want to cause any trouble." He couldn't finish the thought, the memory of yesterday's pain and humiliation overwhelming him.
Buneary's ears twitched with defiant anger. 'No. You're not going to run away this time,' she said, her voice in his mind now a sharp, clear command. 'Not anymore. I won't let you.' Her paws clenched into tiny fists on his shoulder, her determination and anger being sent through the link making her stance clear to Atlas.
The fear still gnawed at Atlas, but it was eventually being drowned out by a wave of Buneary's anger and unshakeable confidence. He looked down at her, seeing his own humiliation reflected in her fierce eyes. But he also saw something else—a silent promise that he wasn't alone. Taking a deep breath, he felt the fear begin to recede, replaced by a slow-burning resolve. He wasn't the same person he was yesterday. He had her now. He was a trainer. He was going to Veridia City. He squared his shoulders, turned his back to the alley, and continued walking toward his new future, refusing to let his past hold him back any longer.
Atlas walked on, his confidence a new armor he wore with Buneary on his shoulder. He knew Ben and his crew frequented these alleys, but for the first time, he didn't care. The fear that had once paralyzed him was now a distant memory. He silently moved past them, and for a moment, he thought they had been ignored.
"Hey, look, it's Atlas," a sneering voice said, stopping them in their tracks. "Didn't think you'd still be alive after what happened last time, and you still had the balls to walk these streets, huh? And who is this?" Atlas turned around to face Ben, whose eyes, full of curiosity, were fixed on Buneary. His two lackeys stood behind him, smirking.
"What do you want, Ben?" Atlas asked, his voice low and firm. Buneary let out a low growl, a rumble of anger that Atlas felt clearly through their bond.
"Woah, just wanted to know when our little Atlas bonded with a pokemon, and one just as useless as you." Ben sneered, throwing a look of disgust at Buneary.
"Ben," Atlas responded, a slight anger in his voice after hearing the remark Ben made, "we're not looking for trouble. We're busy." He began to turn, but a firm hand grabbed his shoulder, squeezing down hard. It hurt, but the pain was distant, muted by the powerful bond that coursed through him. This was nothing like last time.
"Who said you could leave without my permission?" Ben's voice was tinged with anger. Atlas shook his hand off, and Ben's face reddened with fury.
"Metapod! Use String Shot and make sure they can't move anymore!" Ben yelled, his voice echoing in the alley. "They need to be taught a lesson!" His Metapod, a pokemon known for its powerful defensive shell, shifted its body, ready to unleash the attack.
Atlas, surprised that Ben would actually attack someone openly in the city, snapped out of his shock just in time. He sidestepped at the last moment, the sticky string flying past his head and splattering against the wall with a wet thud. "Buneary, you take care of the Metapod!" he commanded, his voice firm. "I'll go after Ben." A surge of confidence and trust flowed from him to Buneary. "I don't know what moves you're able to use right now, but I trust you can handle it."
'Alright, just be careful,' her voice echoed through his head, worry and anger still flowing through their link.
With that, she launched herself off his shoulder with her powerful legs, connecting with Metapod and shoving it down to the ground with surprising force. Atlas followed close behind, his muscles tightening as he prepared to face Ben.
Atlas leaped after Ben, balling his fist. He tried to channel the same Normal-type energy that Buneary had used, but his fist remained his own. "Tch," he muttered, shaking off the momentary frustration. He had to focus. He reached Ben in a flash, catching him completely off guard. Ben was still staring at the disoriented Metapod, and Atlas used the opportunity, driving his fist straight into Ben's stomach. The blow caused Ben to double over, the contents of his lunch spilling onto the grimy alley floor.
Atlas glanced over at Buneary. She had already finished the fight, Metapod lying unconscious with swirls in its eyes. Ben's two lackeys stood frozen in shock, their own pokemon—a Croagunk and a Pidgeotto—standing ready beside them. The sight of two more pokemon was too much for Atlas and Buneary to handle right now.
"HEY! What are you kids doing!" a voice boomed from the street corner. An officer, likely drawn by the commotion, was striding toward them.
Atlas gave Buneary a quick signal, and she immediately hopped onto his shoulder. They turned and ran. The two lackeys, snapping out of their shock, grabbed the stunned Ben and his pokemon and booked it in the opposite direction. The officer hesitated for only a second before chasing after them, as they were closer.
Atlas ran, feeling the wind on his face, a wide grin spreading across his face. He felt a rush of adrenaline and something more: freedom. The heavy shackles of fear that had held him back for so long were finally broken. He ran until he was sure they were safe, then ducked into a quiet alley and sank to the ground, his back against the cool brick wall, still catching his breath.
Buneary jumped off his shoulder, landing directly in front of him. 'Wasn't that great?!' she sent, her voice filled with pure glee. 'Seeing that look on his face must have felt amazing! We showed him what's what!' Grinning, she shadowboxed the air attempting to do what could only be some pseudo martial arts, if it could even be called that.
Smiling at her antics, Atlas got up, the adrenaline wearing off and the rush of triumph still lingering. "That did feel great," he said, the grin still on his face. "But we should probably leave the city before the cops start looking for us again." He picked up his backpack, slinging it over his shoulder, and Buneary jumped up right after, taking her spot.
They made their way to the city gates, and Atlas once again felt the familiar pity and disgust from the security guards. He tried to ignore it, but the anger still simmered beneath his skin. 'It's fine, Atlas,' Buneary sent, her voice in his mind a sharp, confident beat. 'What they think is of no importance.' But she still felt his anger, a stubborn, low burn through their link. She let out a small sigh, letting the topic go for now.
After making it through security with minimal stares, they passed through the gates and were met with the wide-open plains, the sun beaming down on them. Atlas stood there in awe, taking in the endless view. This was the first time he had ever been outside the city, and the scale of the world was breathtaking.
'It's beautiful, isn't it?' Buneary's voice echoed with her own sense of wonder. It had been a long time since she had last been outside the city, after she had snuck in for protection and hadn't left since.
"Yeah," Atlas said, still in awe. A grin started to appear on his face, spreading from ear to ear. He felt the shackles of his past finally fall away, replaced by the boundless potential of the world before him. "This is it, Buneary," he said, his voice full of triumph. "We're out. Our journey has officially begun."
The sun beat down on the wide, open plains, a stark contrast to the cramped city streets and shade they had just left behind. Atlas and Buneary walked for what felt like hours, the city's towering walls shrinking into the distance behind them. The air, fresh and clean, smelled of wild grass and damp earth. A sense of peace settled over Atlas, a quiet calm he hadn't felt in years.
This is what freedom feels like, he thought, and a wave of pure excitement was felt by both of them through the link.
Their peaceful walk was interrupted by a rustling in the tall grass. A pokemon, a sturdy, dark brown Stantler, emerged, its large antlers pointed directly at them. It lowered its head, pawing at the ground, a clear sign of aggression. Atlas's heart began to pound, but this time, it wasn't out of fear. It was excitement. This was their first chance at a real battle.
"Buneary, get ready," he said, his voice firm. He knew from his old textbooks that Stantler were herbivores, but they could be incredibly territorial. They were also a source of protein in the wild, which meant this was their chance to get a proper meal.
'Stantler… a bit big for our first fight, don't you think?' she sent, a hint of worry in her voice.
"It's our best shot," Atlas replied, trying to sound more confident than he felt. "You have the advantage of being faster. Stay on your toes, get in close, and don't let it hit you with those antlers! I'll try to distract it as you sneak up and use Double Kick." On the way through the plains, Buneary had told Atlas the moves she was able to use, allowing him to strategize their next move.
Buneary jumped off his shoulder, running around the Stantler to charge her energy. The Stantler, however, remained focused on Atlas, seeing him as the primary threat. Atlas felt it start to charge, and he began to condense Normal-type energy into his arms, something Buneary had taught him during their walk from the city.
The Stantler charged, its horns connecting with Atlas's hands. He groaned from the pressure, his feet sliding back on the dirt, but he held strong, the energy buffing his arms. He could feel its massive strength pushing against him.
"Buneary! Now!" Atlas shouted, his voice strained as he held onto the Stantler's antlers.
Buneary appeared from within the tall grass, legs first. She shot towards the Stantler, kicking it with one leg and then the other, knocking the pokemon off balance. Atlas leaped back just as the Stantler fell to the ground with a thud.
Seeing it was at a disadvantage, the Stantler resorted to using the balls on its antlers, channeling psychic energy towards Buneary.
"Buneary! Watch out, it's Hypnosis! Don't look at its antlers!" Atlas yelled, but it was too late. Buneary fell to the ground, unconscious. The link between them went fuzzy, and Atlas felt a sharp jolt of fear.
The Stantler, getting back on its hooves, turned to Atlas, its eyes glowing with a weakened, but still potent, psychic energy. It began to charge once more. Atlas, slightly exhausted, knew it was just him now. He channeled all his remaining energy into his right arm, wincing as it throbbed from the strain. He was banking on the Stantler dumbly charging straight at him.
And just as he predicted, it did. Atlas sidestepped at the last moment, swinging his fist at its stomach with all his might. The power that burst from his arm was shocking. The punch knocked the Stantler clean off its hooves, and as it hit the ground with a sickening thud, blood came out of its mouth. Its body went limp. Atlas stared at the motionless form for a moment, his mind blank with surprise. He hadn't meant to do that. He hadn't meant to kill it.
The adrenaline faded, replaced by a cold wave of exhaustion. He coughed, a little blood coming up, and clutched his throbbing arm. He stared at the motionless pokemon, a long sigh escaping him. This was the wild. He knew what had to be done else him and Buneary might've been in more danger. Without another thought, he walked over to the unconscious Buneary and carefully picked her up, putting her into the nook of his right arm letting her and his arm rest as he looked around seeing a rocky overhang and started to move everything there.
Atlas carefully laid Buneary down on his sleeping bag to rest, along with the rest of their belongings. He left the overhang to get what he could from the Stantler before other pokemon found it. As he got to work, salvaging the edible meat, a skill his parents had taught him in the hope that he'd one day join them on their adventures, a sharp jolt of panic surged through their link.
'Atlas! Where are you?!' Buneary's fear and worry flooded his mind.
'I'm fine, Buneary,' he sent back, his thought clear and reassuring. 'I'm just getting the meat from the Stantler.'
He felt her fear soften into a quiet concern. 'Just come back soon. We don't know what else might be out there. Being together is safer,' she responded, and the link went quiet once more.
With renewed vigor, Atlas moved quickly, getting the rest of the Stantler meat. He returned to their camp, where he saw Buneary up and moving around, inspecting their small shelter. He put the meat down, gathered some dry firewood, and began to prepare a fire to cook their meal. The scent of cooking meat filled the small space, and he saw Buneary's ears twitch in anticipation, her gaze fixed on the food.
They ate in a comfortable silence, the fire casting long shadows on the cave walls. The simple meal of grilled meat, though unseasoned, was the best thing Atlas had tasted in a while.
"It wasn't a bad first day out, was it?" Atlas said, looking at Buneary as he ate.
'It wasn't, but we should certainly be more careful from now on,' she sent, her tone serious as she continued to eat her portion of meat. 'What we did today was very dangerous.'
"Yeah, I know what I did was wrong," Atlas said, his head hung low in contempt. "I rushed into the Stantler fight without a real plan, before we'd even had a chance to practice together."
'It's fine, Atlas. We just need to get you to think first before you rush into things,' she sent back, and he could feel her snickering through the link. 'Something we're definitely going to have trouble with.'
"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?" Atlas said with a look of feigned shock.
'Nothing~' she replied playfully, and the feeling of her laughter echoed through his mind as she went back to eating her food.
After finishing their meal, Atlas put out the fire, watching as the last of the smoke rose into the dark sky. He crawled into his sleeping bag, and Buneary followed, burrowing into his arms. He felt her small body trembling slightly, a ripple of fear and insecurity she couldn't quite hide. The fear of what had happened earlier still hadn't left her.
He wrapped his arms around her, a gentle, protective embrace. The coldness of the night felt distant, replaced by the warmth of her presence. As Atlas drifted off to sleep, the images of his new life began to form in his mind—the open plains, the exhilarating rush of battle, the trials ahead. The future wasn't just a dream anymore; it was a path they were already walking, together.