Back at the PokéCenter, Eliana wanted to get the Alolan Raichu looked over. It was injured, exhausted, and angry, and her abilities didn't include healing. Nurse Joy took the Raichu without a second look, her professionalism a shield against the strange, girl who brought in a Pokémon with injuries that didn't seem to be from a fight.
Eliana retreated to her room, her back and stomach a dull, persistent ache. She lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, Ralts resting beside her. The adrenaline was starting to fade, leaving behind a bone-deep weariness and the ghost of pain from the bat. She should have been thinking about about Lieutenant Surge and the information she had gathered.
Instead, her mind kept drifting back to the Raichu. The ferocity in its eyes, the raw, untamed power. It was a kindred spirit, a creature that understood the world in the same way she did: as a hierarchy of predators and prey. She was eager to test its limits, to see what it could do when properly unleashed.
A few hours later, Nurse Joy called her. "Your Raichu is ready," she said, her voice clipped and efficient. "It... put up quite a fight during the examination. It's quite aggressive towards humans, be careful with it."
Eliana already knew this, however she had only believed it acted that way towards the men because they had hurt it. Apparently not, Eliana thought as she walked down to the main lobby, a spring in her step despite the pain. Nurse Joy handed her the PokéBall, her expression unreadable as she asked the question that had been on her mind since she first received the Raichu for care.
"If you don't mind me asking," Nurse Joy asked, her eyes full of concern. "How did this Raichu end up like this?"
"It's a horrible story," Eliana replied, her smile cool. "It's trainer is a young man from Alola, who got into a bit of trouble with the wrong crowd. He was trying to protect his Pokémon when they were both attacked."
Shaking her head with false sympathy, "I stepped in to stop the assault from going to far, and he made me promise to look after Raichu while he recovered."
It was a lie, of course, but it was a good one. A plausible story that explained the Pokémon's origin and its aggression without raising too many questions. And it painted her as a hero, a savior who had rescued the poor creature from a terrible fate. She liked that, the idea that she could be both the monster and the hero, depending on the story she chose to tell.
Nurse Joy seemed to accept the explanation, her professional mask back in place. "Well, it's a strong Pokémon. I'm sure he'll be glad to have it back."
"I'm sure he will," Eliana said, and walked away before the nurse could ask any more questions.
Back in the privacy of her room, released Staryu and called Ralts from his place on the pillow of the bed.
Ralts and Staryu gave exited sounds of confirmation, both looking eagerly at the PokéBall.
Eliana then released the Raichu. The Pokémon materialized on the floor, its body tense, its eyes scanning the room for threats. Its fur was still a little matted, but the worst of its wounds had been healed. When she first caught the creature it's aggressive seemed to have quelled but that could've changed, so Eliana bent down to put her hand in front of the Raichu's face to see its next course of action.
The Alolan Raichu stared at the offered hand for a bit, but then nuzzled against it. It's cheeks sparking slightly, not enough to sting but to signal happiness.
(´ . .̫ . `), Ralts projected to Eliana, a picture of the Raichu being cute. The Raichu looked up at Ralts and Staryu, letting out a soft, questioning squeak.
Eliana smiled, scratching the Pokémon behind its ears. The Raichu leaned into her touch, a low, contented hum of electricity vibrating through its body. It seemed to have accepted her, not just as a liberator, but as its new trainer. Its partner.
Now it's time to see your information, Eliana thought pushing a wave a psychic energy over the Raichu. The Alolan Raichu was a female and her ability was Surge Surfer, would be good for sweeping opponents. Hopefully she already knew Electric Terrian, because Eliana wasn't sure how to teach something like that.
Her moveset, was looking to be the strongest in terms of attack power. Psychic, Thunderbolt, Electric Terrain, Electro Web, Iron Tail, Signal Beam, Light Screen, Reflect, Focus Blast, Grass Knot. It was great that she did know Electric Terrain, not to mention the screens were great set up for the rest of her team. Decent enough cover moves, at least ones to cover Raichu's main weaknesses. All in all, a good addition to the team.
"We have training to do," Eliana said, her expression hardening. "Before we leave for Saffron city, I want to see what all you can do, Raichu. Ralts you're getting close to evolution, I want you to be a Kirlia. Staryu, I want you to learn Thunderbolt from Raichu,"
The Raichu's ears perked up at the word "training," her tail beginning to crackle with mixture of electricity and psychic energy. It was eager for a fight.
Ralts, on the other hand, projected a feeling of mild annoyance. He knew she was right, he was close to a major power boost, but he disliked the grueling process.
Staryu seemed more confused than anything, learn Thunderbolt? Wasn't it weak to electric attacks!
Of course it wouldn't be enough to survive an attack from a strong electric, not yet anyways, that would come with time. But the answer seemed to convince Staryu of learning the move so that's all that mattered.
Ralts sent, his thoughts a private channel meant only for Eliana, as Staryu was sleeping and the Raichu was investigating the room, her nose twitching as she sniffed every corner. He was still quite annoyed that his trainer didn't let him stop them much sooner.
Ralts insisted his point, a thread of anger woven through his thoughts. They had hurt her, he didn't understand his trainer sometimes.
…
Elaina's current Team:
Pokémon: Ralts
Gender: Male
Ability: Trace
Moves: Disarming Voice, Teleport, Draining Kiss, Confusion, Psyshock, Magical Leaf, Charge Beam, Hyper Voice
Pokémon: Staryu
Gender: Genderless
Ability: Natural Cure
Moves: Water Pulse, Psybeam, Swift, Recover, Confuse Ray, Harden, Power Gem, Icy Wind
Pokémon: Alolan Raichu
Gender: Female
Ability: Surge Surfer
Moves: Psychic, Thunderbolt, Electric Terrain, Electro Web, Iron Tail, Light Screen, Reflect, Focus Blast, Grass Knot