Chapter 179: I Want to Be a Pokémon Trainer
That night, after dinner, Shigeru took Will and the others back to his home. He had moved from the city center to the outskirts. Although it was a bit farther from the training grounds and the Pokémon Hospital, he now had a two-story detached house with a huge amount of indoor space and a backyard full of plants.
In the living room, Will and Shigeru were resting on the sofa, while Meowscarada and Turtwig were playing in the backyard.
"Normally, I'd already be at the training grounds. But for the next few days, I think I'll just rest," Shigeru said, slumping on the sofa. There was another reason he didn't say out loud. After being so thoroughly humiliated by Nastina yesterday, he was a little too embarrassed to go back.
Will glanced at him but didn't say anything. His eyes fell on a painting next to the television. "Where did that come from?"
The painting was of a figure's back. To an unfamiliar eye, the figure was shrouded in a white cape, its form obscured. You could only tell it was a woman from the long hair cascading down her back. But for Will, he recognized her at a glance. It was Liz. And, she must have been in her fifties or sixties.
"Oh? That. It's been passed down for a thousand years! Well, this is a replica my dad painted. The original is too fragile to look at now," Shigeru said, a little interested. He got up, ran to a storage room, and came back with a roll of yellowed paper. "This is the original."
He unrolled it. The figure on it had long since faded. The blurry painting only showed a rough outline.
"Hmm, the artist seems to have painted this from a child's perspective," Will noted. The perspective of the original was very low, looking up at Liz's back, like a child looking at an adult. The replica had been painted from a level perspective.
"There's a little story that's been passed down with this painting, too," Shigeru said, turning the paper over and looking at the back. "I never knew my mother. When I was little, it was my dad who would put me to sleep. And this was the story he told me the most."
"Tell me," Will prompted. He could tell Shigeru really wanted to tell it, and he himself was quite curious. After all, it was related to Liz.
"Come to think of it, this story has a little something to do with my ancestor, too..."
...
A thousand years ago, in the Hisui region, in the Alabaster Icelands.
A young boy stood on the white snowfield, staring at the river in front of him. "Humans and beasts cannot coexist," his father's words echoed in his ears, leaving him confused. He didn't understand.
Pat.
A light footstep sounded from behind him. He turned and saw a small Pokémon standing there, trembling and looking at him pitifully.
"Hehe~"
The boy, Kamado, was different from ordinary people. Most would have run in fear, but he just grinned and slowly approached.
"Zor..."
The little Zorua was scared and began to summon the power of its illusion. It transformed into a chubby little ghost and tried to scare him away.
"Pfft-hahaha."
But the chubby little ghost didn't scare the naturally bold Kamado at all; it just made him laugh. His laughter made the Zorua feel very wronged, and little tears welled up in its eyes. It couldn't hold back any longer and pounced on him.
"Aah!"
Kamado was startled and fell to the ground. The boy and the Pokémon tumbled together in the snow, and then, miraculously, they began to play.
"Hahaha, stop that!" Kamado laughed, pushing away the Zorua that was gently nipping his head. He stood up, brushed the snow off himself, and then looked at his new friend.
"Zor..." the Zorua whimpered.
"Hold still," Kamado said, picking it up and brushing the snow from its neck.
"Where's your family?"
"Zor," it shook its head sadly.
"It's okay. I'll be with you from now on."
"Zorua."
After that, Kamado carried the Zorua and ran all over the forest, building snowmen and having snowball fights, having the time of their lives.
Suddenly, a gentle female voice came from the nearby woods. "Kamado, what are you doing all the way out here?"
The slightly stooped figure of Liz appeared. At her waist were three Poké Balls, and beside her was an equally stooped Scyther.
"Granny Liz?" Kamado froze and subconsciously tried to stuff the Zorua into his clothes.
"I'm not your father," Liz couldn't help but chuckle, walking over and stroking his head.
"Oh, right. Hehe," Kamado realized. Granny Liz was a Pokémon trainer from another place; she wasn't his father, who was so hostile to Pokémon.
"Let me see."
"Okay!" Kamado nodded vigorously and held up the little Zorua as if showing off.
"Oh my, this little one... looks like it's a different color. How unusual."
"Different color?"
"Yes. An individual with a different color from its kin. It's very rare," Liz smiled, gently stroking the Zorua's chin. The little Pokémon purred and immediately warmed up to her.
"But you can't take him back to the village."
"Why?"
"Your father will drive him out," Liz said with a helpless sigh. She knew Kamado's father, the leader of Jubilife Village, all too well.
Kamado's head drooped in disappointment.
"Zor?" The Zorua looked up, not understanding why he was suddenly so sad.
ROOAAR!!
Just then, a roar echoed from the snowfield. A Mamoswine, its eyes red and its body seven or eight meters tall, was charging towards them like a mad bull.
"So it's you," Liz said calmly, pushing the two frightened little ones behind her. She had recently received a request for help from the Pearl Clan about a rampaging Mamoswine. It seemed this was it.
"Granny Liz!"
"It's okay. I'm a Pokémon trainer, you know~" Liz smiled and patted his head. She then looked at the Scyther beside her. "Scyther, could I trouble you?"
"Scyther," it nodded gently. The giant Mamoswine in front of it couldn't cause even a ripple in its calm eyes. In an instant, the Scyther vanished in a green blur, shooting towards the charging beast. The green shadow, carrying a sharp white light, slashed across the Mamoswine's massive body.
BOOM!
In an instant, the Mamoswine collapsed, its large eyes turning to swirls.
Liz walked closer, felt around its body, and then pulled some blackish-purple thorns from its mouth.
Kamado and Zorua were still standing in the distance, completely stunned. A Mamoswine of that size... had been taken down just like that? Kamado took a deep breath, gathered his courage, and walked closer.
"Granny Liz... is he your Pokémon too?" he asked, pointing at the Scyther.
"Hmm... Scyther is my friend. He's not really my Pokémon," Liz said, shaking her head. Scyther had never been her Pokémon. That was why it was by her side, not in a Poké Ball. It didn't want to be. It was just following its own will, continuing to protect the person its deceased friend had wanted to protect.
"Mamoswine..." a voice groaned. The Mamoswine stirred and shakily stood up. This time, its eyes were no longer red.
"You're a little more clear-headed now?" Liz asked.
"Mamoswine," it nodded in embarrassment.
"Don't eat this stuff next time," she said, holding up the thorns.
"MAMOSWINE!" it nodded vigorously.
The Mamoswine left, but not before looking back at Liz one last time, as if to memorize her face.
Kamado, who had witnessed the whole thing, was speechless. He couldn't describe the shock in his heart. After a long time, he finally spoke. "Granny Liz... can I become a trainer?"
Liz's eyes widened slightly. She had never expected to hear those words from the mouth of the village leader's son. "You want to be a Pokémon trainer?"
"Yes!" he nodded heavily.
"Then let's give it a try," Liz's lips curved into a smile. She then took his hand and led him towards Jubilife Village.
...
Half a day later, Kamado's father had driven both him and the Zorua out of the village. He had called on everyone to resist the "beast invasion," and his own son wanted to lead them to befriend Pokémon?!
Outside the village, Kamado held the Zorua and huddled under a tree, looking pitiful. Now, he was just like the little Zorua, a homeless child.
Pat.
Footsteps sounded from the side. "Have you given up?" Liz had appeared again.
Kamado paused, then looked down at the Zorua sleeping peacefully in his arms. If he gave up on it, wouldn't he be betraying its trust? Wouldn't it have to wander the wild alone again?
"No!" he shook his head firmly, hugging the Zorua tighter. Even if he could never go back to Jubilife Village, he would not give up on Zorua. He didn't understand. His own father used the power of Pokémon to protect the village, so why was he so afraid of them?!
"Granny Liz, can I become a great Pokémon trainer?"
"Of course. As long as a Pokémon likes you, it proves you have the potential to be a great trainer," Liz said, a gratified look in her eyes. She pulled him up. "Come on. I'll take you in."
"But, my father..."
"I'll 'convince' him."
Half an hour later, on the training grounds of Jubilife Village.
"Gliscor, use X-Scissor," Liz commanded, pointing a hand.
"GAR-CHOMP!!"
SLASH!
With a final blow from the Gliscor, her opponent's Snorlax collapsed. In a 3v3 battle, Liz had completely swept him.
This scene had a profound visual impact on the young Kamado. His stubborn and strict father had lowered his head in defeat. Granny Liz, whose back was all he could see, was bathed in the sunlight, shining brilliantly.
Kamado held the Zorua, his eyes filled with a new longing. He imitated Liz's gesture, raising one of his own hands and pointing towards the future.
One day, I too will become a Pokémon trainer...