NOVEL NEXT Chapter 46: Building Trust
After another uneventful morning of exploring BridgeTown and its surrounding areas, Ethan sighed, stretching as he leaned against a tree at the forest's edge. "Nothing useful here either," he muttered, glancing at the map in his hand. "Might as well stock up on supplies and focus on training."
By midday, he had stocked his bag with potions, berries, and some Poké Balls from the town's Poké Mart. He headed toward a serene clearing in the nearby forest, a place he'd scouted earlier. It was perfect—spacious, with a small stream nearby and ample shade under the tall trees.
Ethan released his Pokémon one by one. With flashes of red light, Sylveon, Scyther, Spearow, Crystal Onix, Cleffa, Dratini, and finally Bulbasaur appeared.
"Alright, everyone!" Ethan announced, clapping his hands. "We're here to train and bond as a team. Let's make it count!"
His Pokémon responded with various cries of enthusiasm. Sylveon elegantly stretched its feelers, Scyther sharpened its blades against a rock, Spearow took off to practice its aerial maneuvers, and Crystal Onix submerged partially into the stream, its crystalline body glinting in the sunlight.
Cleffa and Dratini, however, had other ideas. They immediately ran to Ethan, tugging at his pant leg and chirping for attention. Ethan chuckled, scooping them up. "Alright, you two. Playtime later. Let's focus on training for now."
Meanwhile, Bulbasaur stood apart from the group, its expression a mixture of defiance and boredom.
"Bulbasaur," Ethan said, turning his attention to the Grass-type. "We need to work on your moves. Let's start with Vine Whip. Use it to grab that branch over there."
Bulbasaur gave him a flat look, turned its back, and plopped down on the grass.
Ethan pinched the bridge of his nose. "Okay, I see where this is going."
Sylveon, noticing the tension, gave Ethan a supportive nudge before returning to its own training.
Ethan sighed and turned back to his other Pokémon. "Alright, everyone else, let's keep at it. We'll deal with Mr. Grumpy later."
As the day went on, the clearing buzzed with activity. Sylveon practiced its precision with its ribbons, Scyther honed its speed with quick dashes, and Crystal Onix worked on controlling its water-based attacks. Spearow perfected its dives, while Cleffa and Dratini... ignored training altogether.
Instead, they played a game of tag with Ethan, their joyful laughter echoing through the forest. Ethan couldn't help but laugh along, chasing them around and occasionally pretending to fall dramatically to the ground.
Bulbasaur watched all of this from its spot under a tree, its bulb quivering slightly as it observed the camaraderie and teamwork. But when Ethan glanced its way, it quickly looked elsewhere, pretending not to care.
When lunchtime rolled around, Ethan set up a small picnic area. He laid out bowls filled with Pokémon food, each tailored to his team's preferences, along with fresh berries and a steaming pot of stew for himself.
"Alright, everyone! Food's ready!" he called.
His Pokémon gathered eagerly. Sylveon gracefully took its spot near Ethan, while Cleffa and Dratini plopped down beside him, already nibbling on their food. Spearow landed on a nearby branch, pecking at its share, and Crystal Onix rested partially submerged in the stream, enjoying its meal.
Bulbasaur, however, stayed put, turning its nose up at the food.
"Come on, Bulbasaur," Ethan coaxed, holding out a bowl filled with its favorite blend of leafy greens and berries. "You've got to eat something."
Bulbasaur shot him a stubborn look, clearly intent on maintaining its grumpy demeanor. But as the scent of the food wafted over, its resolve began to falter.
Its bulb twitched, and it sniffed the air cautiously. Slowly, it crept closer, as if trying to convince itself it wasn't interested.
When it finally reached the bowl, Bulbasaur took a tentative bite, its expression carefully neutral. Then, in the most dramatic display Ethan had ever seen, it began to eat with exaggerated slowness, its eyes narrowing as if to say, I'm only doing this because I have to.
Ethan and Sylveon exchanged a glance, and then Ethan burst out laughing. "Oh, come on! You're enjoying it, aren't you?"
Bulbasaur paused mid-bite, glaring at Ethan before turning its back and continuing to eat.
Even Sylveon couldn't suppress a soft, amused chirp.
Cleffa and Dratini, meanwhile, found the whole scene hilarious. They rolled on the ground, giggling uncontrollably, their high-pitched laughter adding to the humor of the situation.
Ethan wiped a tear from his eye, still chuckling. "You're going to be a handful, aren't you?"
After lunch, Ethan cleaned up and let his Pokémon relax for a while. Bulbasaur, now full, retreated to its usual spot under a tree, watching the others with an inscrutable expression.
As the sun began to set, Ethan gathered his team. "Alright, guys, good work today. Let's head back and rest up. We've got more training to do tomorrow."
He returned each Pokémon to its Poké Ball, pausing when he got to Bulbasaur's.
"Look," he said softly, crouching down to meet its gaze. "I know we're not exactly best friends yet, but give it time. I promise I'm not the enemy here."
Bulbasaur stared at him for a long moment before reluctantly allowing itself to be recalled.
Ethan stood, pocketing the ball and glancing at Sylveon. "Well, that's progress. Sort of."
Sylveon gave him a look that seemed to say, You've got your work cut out for you.
Ethan grinned, scratching behind Sylveon's ear. "Yeah, I know. But we'll get there. Eventually."