"Dad, trust me!" said Ethan Black, seizing the momentum of the moment. Without waiting any longer, he went straight to express his decision to the League staff.
The worker nodded in understanding, and while Ethan Black's father sighed in resignation, they began the corresponding process.
The procedure was quite similar to getting a driver's license: taking a photo, passing a medical exam, and finally passing a test on Pokémon-related laws. Only then could one obtain the official trainer's license.
Everything went smoothly, and Ethan Black quickly completed each step. However, one detail caught his attention: abandoning a Pokémon was considered a serious crime, comparable to losing a firearm.
Of course, it made sense. After all, the power of a Pokémon was lethal to an ordinary person!
Any move used without control could easily kill a human. If an abandoned Pokémon was left wandering, it would be like a ticking time bomb, ready to explode and cause havoc.
Naturally, abusing a Pokémon was also a crime, since an abused Pokémon could rebel and escape, which in the end had the same result as abandoning it.
Once all the paperwork was finished, Ethan Black finally received his Pokémon trainer license, with the rank of beginner-level trainer.
Afterward, the worker also handed him a Poké Ball and the breeding certificate of his Shiny Sandshrew, informing him that he could now go pick it up.
With the Poké Ball and certificate in hand, Ethan Black let out a long sigh of relief.
It was finally done! At last, he was going to have the shiny Sandshrew he had dreamed of for so long.
"Why don't you trade it for another one? That sixth sense stuff is too uncertain... Your mother never got one right!" said Victor Black on the way back, still insisting, hoping his son would change his mind.
But Ethan Black had no intention of being persuaded by his ignorant father. He had just scored a jackpot and was thrilled!
"Mom, we're back!" he announced upon arriving home.
Victor Black went dejectedly straight to the kitchen, saying he was going to help, but Ethan Black knew he was really going to complain to his mother.
He didn't care. Time would prove him right. He was convinced that this Shiny Sandshrew would become a powerful Pokémon in his hands.
With his heart brimming with excitement, Ethan Black went straight to his room. The first thing he did was press the button in the center of the Poké Ball. A white flash lit up the room, and in an instant, the green Sandshrew appeared before him.
The little one, in its new environment, looked very timid. As soon as it was released, it ran and hid under the bed. Then it stuck out a paw, lifted a corner of the sheet, and began silently peeking at the place.
"Hello, Sandshrew. My name is Ethan Black. From today onward, we'll be partners!" said Ethan Black, trying his best to look friendly, crouching down to speak softly.
But Sandshrew paid him little attention. As soon as it saw him crouch down, it scurried even further under the bed, leaving Ethan Black with a headache.
"Looks like this little guy was bullied a lot in its group... That's why it's so timid. What can I do to get it to accept me?" he wondered, racking his brain for solutions.
For novice trainers like him, the hardest part at the beginning was getting a Pokémon to accept its new trainer.
"Ethan, dinner's ready!" his mother's voice, Clara Whitmore, pulled him from his thoughts.
"Coming!" he replied with a sigh. Clearly, this would have to be solved little by little.
Leaving his room, the aroma of food wrapped around him immediately. Tonight was clearly a feast!
With a happy stomach, he ran to the bathroom to wash his hands before sitting down to enjoy dinner.
As he hummed cheerfully, his gaze shifted toward the bathroom mirror, and at that moment, he burst into laughter.
Reflected in the mirror was the little green Sandshrew peeking in from the doorway. It was completely stretched out, nose sniffing nonstop, swallowing saliva. It was a totally comical scene!
"So you're a glutton too! Then it'll be much easier to deal with you!" said Ethan Black with a mischievous smile.
After washing his hands, he ignored Sandshrew and went straight to the dining room to start eating.
"Ethan, what about your Sandshrew? Let it out so I can see it," said Clara Whitmore as she set the last dish on the table, smiling.
"Mom, Sandshrew is a Pokémon. How would it like our human food?" replied Ethan Black indifferently.
"Sha~!"
Pokémon had their own ways of understanding what humans said. Hearing that, Sandshrew was stunned. It almost wanted to run out and shout that delicious food was very much to a Pokémon's liking too!
"Are you really not going to let it out?" Clara Whitmore asked doubtfully.
Sandshrew hesitated too for a moment.
"No need. From what I've read, Sandshrew eat insects. I'll go catch a couple later and that'll do" said Ethan Black carelessly.
"Sha sha sha~! (Is this human confused? Should I clear this up...?)"
"Well, fine... and here I thought it would like meat... In the end, it's just you two carnivores eating it all!" Clara Whitmore said, rolling her eyes.
"Sha? (Meat?)"
As soon as Sandshrew heard that word, it couldn't hold back anymore. It didn't even know how long it had been since the last time it ate meat! If it could just get a good piece, it would be worth dying for.
So, right after hearing that, it darted out and jumped onto the chair prepared for it, eyes locked on the braised ribs on the table.
Since its birth, it had never smelled anything so delicious.
"You want meat?" asked Clara Whitmore, a little surprised.
"Sha!" Sandshrew nodded with all its strength. The language of nodding had no borders, right? Its answer was crystal clear!
I, Sandshrew, am a carnivore.
"All right, wait a moment, I'll bring you a bowl" replied Clara Whitmore with a kind smile.
Under the Pokémon's eager gaze, she brought a bowl and served it a large piece of meat.
The aroma was irresistible. Sandshrew stretched out its claw to snatch it immediately.
But just as it was about to touch the stew... a hand stopped it.
"You have to wash your hands before eating! Look at those filthy claws!" said Ethan Black, with a disgusted expression.
"Sha? (Wash hands?)" Sandshrew was stunned.
That concept didn't exist in the world of Ground-type Pokémon.
But before Sandshrew could protest, Ethan Black had already brought a container of water and set it in front of it.
At the sight of the water, Sandshrew trembled instinctively.
Water... was its greatest nightmare!
(End of Chapter)