Valeria stares at the landscape before her, a mix of awe and disbelief etched on her face. It looks like a nature documentary, but real.
"Are these Pokémon?" she asks, her voice barely above a whisper.
As if on cue, Orion appears beside her, his whimsical Poké Ball cane resting easily in his hand. He smiles, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Indeed, Miss Richards. Welcome to a world of boundless possibility."
He gestures around them, encompassing the vista with a sweep of his arm. "Here in the sanctuary, Pokémon from across the multiverse coexist in harmony. It's a place of discovery, of friendship, and of endless wonder."
Orion turns to Valeria, his expression encouraging. "I invite you to explore, to interact, and to discover the magic of Pokémon firsthand. Who knows, you might just find a partner who captures your heart."
Valeria takes a tentative step forward, her eyes scanning the surroundings. She sees a Pidgey perched on a tree branch, chirping merrily. The Pidgey has brown and cream feathers, with a tuft of feathers sticking up on its head like a little crest. Its beady eyes dart around, taking in its surroundings.
That is quite a big bird.
Approaching the bird with a slight skip in her step, she asks, "Hello there! You're quite a bird."
The Pidgey squawks in alarm, startled by her sudden approach and transactional tone. It flaps its wings and flies away to another branch, further away from Valeria, as if putting distance between itself and an unwanted solicitor.
Well, that went well, she thinks, a touch of sarcasm lacing her thoughts.
Next, Valeria spots a group of Oddish huddled together near a patch of mushrooms, their leaf-like heads swaying gently. The Oddish are small, round Pokémon with blue bodies and green leaves sprouting from their heads. Their faces are simple, with large, black eyes and a small, downturned mouth, giving them a perpetually sad expression.
Kneeling down, she examines them closely, her scientific curiosity piqued. "Fascinating. They look like little plant bulbs with faces. I wonder what their cellular structure is like?"
The Oddish huddle closer together, sensing her intense scrutiny and detached tone. They seem unnerved by her analytical gaze, their leaf-like heads trembling slightly. With a collective whimper, they scurry into the undergrowth, disappearing from view.
Valeria sighs, her initial enthusiasm waning. She spots a Seel lounging by the lake, basking in the starlight. The Seel is a sleek, seal-like Pokémon with a white, furry body and a single horn protruding from its forehead. Its large, black eyes are gentle and intelligent.
Maybe something aquatic will be more receptive, she thinks.
Valeria attempts to touch the Seel, but it startles at her approach, diving into the water with a splash, disappearing beneath the surface. The ripples slowly dissipate, leaving no trace of its presence.
They're more timid than I thought, she thinks, frustration creeping into her mind. And not very cooperative.
From a distance, Orion observes her interactions with a knowing look on his face. He can see that Valeria's approach is not exactly yielding the results she had hoped for.
Orion approaches Valeria, his footsteps soft on the grass. "Having some difficulties, Miss Richards?" he asks gently.
Valeria turns to him, her expression a mix of annoyance and confusion. "They're all so skittish! I can't even get close to them."
Orion chuckles softly. "Pokémon are generally innocent and friendly, but they can be wary, especially of humans they don't know. Startling them or making them feel threatened can trigger a defensive response."
He pauses, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "To gain their trust, you must approach them with kindness and understanding. Offer them fruit, engage them in gentle conversation, show them that you mean no harm."
Valeria crosses her arms, her brow furrowed. "I don't exactly carry a fruit basket on me."
As if summoned by her words, Valeria spots a Caterpie on a tree branch nearby. It is munching on a leaf, seemingly oblivious to her presence. The Caterpie has a vibrant green body, segmented like a caterpillar, with large yellow rings for eyes and a red antenna on its head.
"What's that one?" Valeria asks, pointing towards the Caterpie.
Orion follows her gaze, a smile spreading across his face. "Ah, that's a Caterpie. A gentle Bug-type Pokémon. They are known for their docile nature and love of greenery."
Valeria takes a deep breath, remembering Orion's advice. She approaches the Caterpie slowly, lowering her voice to a soft murmur. "Hello there, little guy. You're quite colorful. What are you eating?"
The Caterpie pauses its munching, its large, innocent eyes focusing on Valeria. It cocks its head slightly, as if trying to understand her words, and responds with a soft cry, a high-pitched
"Kriiii."
Encouraged by its response, Valeria extends her hand slowly, palm up, towards the Caterpie. The Caterpie hesitates for a moment, its tiny body trembling slightly. Then, as if making up its mind, it crawls onto her arm, its tiny feet tickling her skin.
Interesting, its grip is surprisingly firm, but not unpleasant. Its exoskeleton is smooth to the touch.
She feels a strange sense of connection with the little creature, a sense of understanding that transcends words. It's as if she can sense its thoughts, its feelings, its simple joy in the act of eating.
Orion smiles, pleased at the interaction. He reaches into his tailcoat pocket and pulls out a bright red apple. "Here you go, little friend," he says, offering the apple to the Caterpie.
The Caterpie seems to light up at the sight of the apple. It eagerly accepts the treat, munching on it with gusto before crawling back up the tree to enjoy its snack in peace.
Emboldened by her successful encounter with the Caterpie, Valeria decides to try her luck with other Pokémon. She spots a Krabby scuttling along the shoreline, its pincers clicking together rhythmically. The Krabby has a bright red, crab-like body with a large, oversized pincer on one side. Its eyes are beady and mischievous.
A crab should be easy enough to handle,
Striding confidently towards the Krabby, she says, "Hey, crab! I'm Valeria. I'm looking for a partner. You seem… sturdy. How about it?"
The Krabby stops in its tracks, its beady eyes narrowing at her. It snaps its pincers defensively and scuttles sideways into a tide pool, disappearing from view.
Valeria sighs, her confidence faltering. She approaches a Pidgey perched on a rock near the lake, hoping for a better result.
"Hello, birdy. If you agree to come with me, I can upgrade your wings with some tech. You could fly faster than anything. Deal?"
The Pidgey puffs up its chest, as if offended by her offer to improve it. It gives her a disdainful look and flies off, joining a flock soaring overhead.
Valeria groans, running a hand through her hair. She spots a group of Oddish not too far away and attempts to befriend them.
"Hello," she says, approaching them. "I am Valeria Richards. Would you like to come back to my lab for research? I can improve your growth rates, increase your defense, and more!"
The Oddish stares at her with confusion, as if they can't understand her words. Sensing her intentions, they back off slowly, waddling away.
Valeria approaches Orion, visibly frustrated. "Why doesn't anyone want to partner with me?" she asks, throwing her arms up in exasperation.
Orion sighs, his expression sympathetic. "Each Pokémon has its own reasons, Valeria. Some value their freedom, others are deeply connected to their current groups. But I've also observed you, Miss Richards."
He pauses, his eyes meeting hers. "Pokémon are sensitive to intent. They can sense your thoughts, your feelings, your underlying motivations."
Orion explains, "You're a genius, Valeria. And, if I may be frank, you may subconsciously view those who are less intelligent as… beneath you. Pokémon sense that. You are coming off as conceited and that you would view them as a tool."
He adds, "Partnering is about equal footing, a bond of mutual respect, not a 'pet' relationship. It's about mutual growth and shared experiences."
Valeria considers his words, her mind racing. She understands his explanation, but she also realizes that changing her ingrained mindset won't happen overnight.
Valeria sighs, acknowledging her failure to connect with a Pokémon in the sanctuary. "So, I guess I'm out of luck in here. What now?" she asks, her voice resigned.
Orion smiles, his eyes twinkling. "There's always the lottery method. Would you like to try your luck?"
Valeria considers the options. The sanctuary was a bust. A hundred grand is a lot of money, but she is curious about what Pokémon she would get.
Well, I do have a fairly large allowance... and I am curious about what Pokémon I would get, she thinks.
"Alright, let's do it," she says, a hint of recklessness in her voice. "What's the worst that could happen?"
Orion beams, pleased with Valeria's decision. "Excellent! Let's head back to the lobby then."
He turns and begins walking back towards the teleportation device, his cane tapping lightly on the ground. Valeria follows close behind, her mind already racing with possibilities.
They both exit the sanctuary, leaving the Pokémon to their peaceful existence, and head back towards the main lobby of Pokémon Home, ready to try her luck with the lottery.
***
Give power stones to support this book.
Advance chapters in P@T0n Najicablitz.