After a very tense—and apparently ‘bland’ lunch, according to Cynthia—Ethan stood outside on his patio, saying his goodbyes to the Champion. She had her day cleared for the rocket transfer, but the life of The Champion didn’t include wasting time hanging around on a ranch in the middle of nowhere.

“While I would say having you here has been a pleasure, I am afraid all you’ve brought with you is stress and trauma.” Ethan said, hands in his pockets with a deadpan expression.

Cynthia huffed as she tucked a lock of blonde hair behind her ear, then crossed her arms. “Take care of yourself, and thanks for the theme music. I’ll think I’ll be using that for all my challenges from here on out.”

While he was slightly peeved about the Porygon in his computer handing over her theme song without his permission, as they’d had a pretty clear and cut conversation about respect not a week ago, he was willing to admit that it was kinda funny—after the fact. During lunch, she had explained that she had asked for it personally, and that it was meant to be a surprise. Joyce, who had been part of the psychic link when he originally shared his memories, remembered the traumatic moment Ethan stepped into her room in the games and had relayed the information. She promised that no other files were taken from him, but he’d wait and see if that was actually true or not later on.

Ethan winced for the future generations that heard that traumatic piano. “Before you leave, can I meet your Garchomp? You put…”

“Her.” Cynthia filled in.

“You put her back into her pokeball quickly, so I didn’t get to meet her.” Ethan finished, earning a slight smile and a nod.

Ethan ran a finger over Shuckle’s pokeball as they wandered down his patio stairs to a more open area. His berry bud had nearly fainted from fright upon seeing the terrifying visage of the strongest Garchomp in Sinnoh, and probably the world at large. It would take drastic measures to root out the ingrained fear.

With a flick of her wrist, Cynthia released her starter from its Ultra Ball.

As Garchomp materialized, Ethan got a much clearer look at, probably, the strongest pokemon he will ever get the chance to see up close. He wasn’t sure about how large normal Garchomps were, but if they were anything like the seven or eight foot tall monstrosity in front of him, he would bet that they were at the top of the food chain in the wild. From what he remembered, they lived in mountains and caves…

Cynthia stepped off to the side and gestured proudly at her dragon, a warm smile showing clearly on her upturned lips. “This is Garchomp. Garchomp, this is Ethan.”

Ethan felt a shiver run down his spine as Garchomp’s gaze locked onto him, assessing, unblinking. This wasn’t like any other pokemon he’d seen before. She was a force of nature, and she carried itself like she knew it too… But, he wasn’t scared.

Ethan could count on one hand the amount of times he’d been afraid of pokemon, and all of them were from misunderstanding the pokemon in question or ignorance. The first time was when he’d seen his first pokemon. The confusion, combined with being lost and afraid of his situation, made him frightened of it. It had been a Tympole in a small puddle, just going about its day.

The second time he’d ever been afraid was his first meeting with Ursaring. That was self explanatory. A wild Ursaring, plus her cubs, equals no.

With a casualness that seemed to amuse the mighty dragon, going by how she leaned forward to get on his level, Ethan walked forward to stand right in front of Garchomp. He looked her up and down, then asked Cynthia a vital question before risking touching. “Sand Veil or Rough Skin?”

“Both.” Cynthia answered. “Training can do lots of things.”

He looked over Garchomp’s skin, and by her sleek and fierce appearance, he would assume he wouldn’t hurt himself by touching. “Can I touch you? Or will it hurt?” He asked.

Instead of replying, Garchomp just took another step forward and pushed its chest and stomach into Ethan’s outstretched hand. Unsurprisingly, she felt like sandpaper. It didn’t hurt, but he had the feeling that it very much could if she wanted it too.

“Well, aren’t you a frightening dragon!” Ethan teased as he gave Garchomp a pat on the stomach. “I have a favor to ask of you…” He dropped his hand and took a step back to look her in the eyes. The pinnacle of dragons must have seen something on his face, or felt something in his weird empathy thing, as her eyes dilated into a serious glare and her formerly hunched posture disappeared.

Cynthia took a step forward to stand beside her partner and lost her smile as she took in the changes of her pokemon’s shift in mood.

“You are the strongest pokemon I might ever see, one that has been through countless battles and triumphed. Nobody else; no other pokemon or person knows what it feels like to be the starter and lifelong partner of Champion Cynthia. The champion who I believe to be the greatest of them all—What it is like to be her ace. Cynthia raised you from an egg, and you have lived your entire life with her there by your side. Others will never know of that special bond that can never be broken. At least, not at the highest of levels. A bond that can change you into something more than your current self.”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Ethan paused and watched as Garchomp swiveled her gaze to Cynthia, who was gently rubbing her wrist where he assumed a mega stone was held beneath her cuffed sleeves. When Garchomp’s eyes eventually returned to him, he had her full, undivided attention. “My pokemon are inexperienced. Some of them are afraid, others do not know what it means to be truly strong. I am sure some of them hope to be strong, but they don’t have any frame of reference for what that means. They think they know, but they do not. They don’t know of the hardships that come with the goal of strength nor the pride and sense of accomplishment that follows overcoming the trails that block your rise. Even I do not know when it comes to battling, but I have lived long enough to understand that the path you’ve both taken has not been smooth.”

After swallowing the lump that was slowly growing in his throat, Ethan continued. “One of my pokemon has the potential to be strong, but they’re too terrified of others to ever possibly grow into their potential. I am afraid that they will forever be too tied down in their fear to ever be truly happy. They’ll always be too afraid, too self-conscious, and it hurts me everytime I see him shrink away from others. I would like you to show them that the strong can be kind. That the strong do not exist to bully the weak. Will you do that for me? Before you go?”

Without a second of hesitation, Garchomp took a step forward with an arm outstretched to hold Cynthia back and nodded, as if saying that she didn’t get any input for her actions. Ethan let loose a shaky breath and turned around. He stared at Shuckle’s pokeball as he ran his thumbs across its surface, knowing that his berry lover had most likely heard the conversation that had just taken place from within his pokeball. He raised the pokeball to his mouth and began to whisper. “I have told you time and time again, that I would never put you in harm's way. Yet, time and time again fear has taken hold over you. It is okay to be afraid; to be scared of others, but you’re holding yourself back.”

Ethan ignored the subtle shifting of the two behind him and continued talking to his friend. “In the wild, Garchomps live where you do; in mountains and caves. They most likely attacked you, along with the many other pokemon that call those places their home. So, I understand. But, you aren’t in the wild anymore, Shuckle. You are with me. I will protect you like I know that you would protect me. Be brave.”

Ethan turned, put on his brave face, and gently lobbed Shuckle’s pokeball right in between Garchomp and himself. Ethan, over the past few months, had returned and released his pokemon many times, but this time felt like it took ages for them to fully materialize.

Shuckle appeared. His bright red shell and beige rings stood out of place among the vibrant green grass, brown dirt, and colorful autumn leaves billowing about around them. Yes, beige rings—his berry bud was growing up. Shuckle looked upwards, craning his neck to look at the enormous predator in front of him. From Ethan’s vantage point, he couldn’t see the expression his friend was making, but he could see the tremors causing his limbs to shake from fear.

Yet, there was no sudden covering of blue. Shuckle did not withdraw into his shell to hide away. He stood there, looking at the strongest pokemon he may ever see, and spoke his name.

“Shu—S—Shuckle.”

Garchomp took another step forward, then slowly sat down on her haunches in front of the brave, yet weak, pokemon in front of her, and let loose a low rumble. Her eyes flicked to Ethan for but a moment, before focusing back on the red-shelled pokemon before her.

“Garchomp. Gar-Gar-Chomp, omp.” She reached forward with one of her arms, the ones that ended in wickedly sharp spikes, and ignored how Shuckle leaned away from her touch. Ever so gently, she ran one of the spikes along his yellow neck, as if caressing his cheek, and continued to speak to him in tender tones.

Seconds passed by; maybe even minutes, Ethan wasn’t sure. He stood there in a nervous trance watching in real time how Shuckle’s fear gradually faded away. His hesitant, clipped replies and shaking faded, and was replaced by… normalcy.

Then, to his surprise, Shuckle turned around. On his face, he could see a very special smile.

It was a smile he’d never forget.

This special smile wasn’t just about the curve of lips; it was the glimpse of something deeper. It was the way it caused the world to be a little brighter, more colorful—Like the way the sun lights up a room, soft and unguarded, carrying all the warmth of the first rays of morning sunlight. Or perhaps it was how it tilted ever so slightly, as though hiding a secret meant just for him. It involved watery eyes that crinkled at the corners, glinting with understanding, trust, and tenderness.

This special smile would linger—not just in the moment, but in their memories—an imprint of connection, emotion, and something so beautifully rare.

Garchomp lowered her hand to the ground, right below one of Shuckle’s holes, as Shuckle lifted his front half with a mighty push-up. A gentle trickle of Berry Juice flowed freely onto her fin, which she raised to her mouth filled with sharp, deadly, shake-like teeth.

Garchomp gave her thanks with a rumble of her name, then instantly turned and stuck her head underneath Cynthia’s legs, causing The Champion to release a very undignified ‘eek!’ as she was tossed onto the mighty dragon’s back.

Cynthia was attempting to situate herself and save some face as Garchomp gave Ethan a final soul-piercing look, and one understanding nod.

He didn’t know what to say. So, he didn’t say anything. He raised a hand in goodbye as Garchomp took off running… with Cynthia demanding to be let down. The dragon picked up speed, eventually leveling out and sticking her arms outwards, which lifted her off the ground into flight.

Ethan idly bent down and picked up Shuckle, letting him rest in his arms as they watched a separate bond between pokemon and trainer show itself in the skies above. They must have moved Garchomp emotionally, as she was laughing at Cynthia’s righteous indignation as she flew off into the distance.

“I love you, Shuckle.” Ethan said, once the Champion and dragon were both gone over the horizon.

“Shuuuu.”

Ethan didn’t need a translator to know the response.