Today Alex turned eight. The project officially began, aligning with the start of the new trainer season. He had considered visiting the orphanage one last time, but when he saw the matron at the library, she seemed withdrawn, tense and afraid when their eyes met, he abandoned the idea. Some things weren't worth testing.
The only change since the program's start was legal: Charmander now belonged to him. The Pokéball still irritated the little dragon, who preferred to be free, a living weapon at Alex's side rather than a stored toy.
Alex crouched beside Charmander, whose tail flickered idly. His expression was grave, almost unreadable, and Charmander mirrored it instinctively, a slight crease between his brow but curiosity shone in its eyes.
"The difference between advanced trainers and us is too great," Alex said softly, voice calm, precise. "All your potential only makes you a target. If anyone knew a Charmander could wield a dragon-type attack this early, they'd try to steal you or worse. Blackmail me. Force trades. I won't compromise your future. We train the dragon moves now, or we'll never be ready. Staying in Pallet isn't an option."
Charmander nodded. Pride, not fear, sharpened his eyes. He had no intention of hiding behind Oak or its father. Strength was the only currency he understood.
"Even if you could match one attuned Pokémon" Alex continued, "most of them carry a full team. I refuse to rely on numbers. Every Pokémon we raise will be our family and our weapon."
He exhaled slowly, letting the weight of what he was about to propose settle. "There is a way… but it's dangerous. We won't take the routes designed and maintained for trainers. We'll go through the dense jungle."
Charmander's head tilted slightly. Most would have laughed, or frozen. Most didn't know what the wild could do to a human. Poisonous Pokémon, feral dragons, boulders big enough to crush a house, ambushes that could tear limbs from bone. Alex had cataloged every hazard mentally and knew just how dangerous it was even with all his preparation.
Most trainers never left the safety of the routes but Alex had lived in the wild. He had walked kilometers through it, mapped every predator, every poisonous plant, every shortcut and trap. And he knew he deep down, it would only make him and his Pokémon stronger if they came out the other side.
Charmander's tail flickered in agreement. "Tomorrow," Alex said.
And then the forest erupted.
A yellowish blur shot through the trees like a jagged streak of lightning straight towards Alex. he didn't flinch. Charmander leapt, landing in front of him, jaw glowing as a miniature flamethrower erupted from his mouth. The blur backed off; a large Beedrill its drill gleaming with hints of poison on its tip. It attempted to retreat, but Charmander's claws metallic and precise caught it midair, and exited through the other side of Beedrill's body. A single, clean strike ended the threat.
Alex scanned the undergrowth for more predators. Nothing moved. Then a voice split the air, not from the forest but from behind him
"WHAT ARE YOU TWO DOING?!"
Alex froze. Charmander's tail flared brighter, claws hardening again, fire licking his scales in warning.
From the edge of the clearing stepped a green-haired girl, no more than eleven, face red with outrage, fists clenched. Leaf. From school. The one who had squealed over Rattata in the wild.
Alex's first impulse, silence, permanent and absolute, coiled in his chest. But the rational part, the one that separated calculated action from instinctive violence, took over. This was a human. No matter how foolish, it could be reasoned with.
He straightened, calm as a predator stalking prey. "Leaf," he said evenly, "we need to talk."
Half his attention still on the forest, he walked towards the her
Charmander shifted slightly, fire dimming but claws still metallic, a living warning.
The jungle held its breath. So did Alex.