Late at Night
After an unknown amount of time, a small figure emerged from the direction of the wetlands and quietly approached the camp nestled against a low hill, creeping through the shadows of the tall grass and trees.
It remembered that there was delicious food here far better than wild fruits or anything else it could find. It had visited several times before, noting how the humans were forgetful and often left their food out in the open. How silly!
As it stealthily approached the camp, the little creature peeked its head out. Its small, dark eyes shone brightly. Just then, the clouds parted, revealing the entire figure in the moonlight.
Standing at about 35 to 40 centimetres tall, it had slick blue skin and a slender, agile body. The prominent fins on its head, bright orange gills on both sides, and a large tail fin made it easy to identify. Its head fins were like sensitive radar, capable of detecting movement in the water or air without needing to rely on sight.
It was the Mudkip, the elusive Pokémon that everyone had been searching for.
Typically, it preferred to bury itself in the mud at the bottom of a river to rest. When in water, it breathed through the gills on its cheeks. When it swam with its large tail fin, it could move incredibly fast. On land, it used its four legs to kick powerfully, capable of lifting massive rocks and even crushing boulders larger than itself.
Despite its abilities, the Mudkip was actually quite timid and avoided humans. It was generally gentle by nature. Yet this little one was bold enough to approach human camps and steal food! Ben, who was hiding nearby, was both surprised and impressed. A clever Mudkip like this had great potential and would make a perfect partner for training.
Safe now, the humans are quiet!
Yes, safe! They didn't notice me!
The Mudkip dashed over to the Pokémon food that had been carelessly dropped nearby. Hmm? Why is the food over here? These humans are so foolish!
Meanwhile, Ben, watched eagerly as the Mudkip rushed towards the food, prepared to make his move convinced these humans were not the brightest.
Yum!
The Mudkip happily devoured the food, its tiny eyes squinting with joy when suddenly—
"Gotcha! You little thief, dare to steal my food!"
"Kip!? Aaaaaaah!"
The Mudkip quickly swallowed what it had in its mouth and turned to flee, only to find a human blocking its escape.
Why wasn't this human asleep? Wasn't he dumb, like the others? Did he come looking for food? I wasn't stealing, it was just a coincidence!
The Mudkip tried to deny its guilt, glancing around frantically in search of a way out.
Ben found this clever little creature amusing.
"Okay, you can stop looking. I set this spot up just for you."
What? For me? The Mudkip tilted its head, sensing something was off.
"Look around you. You're boxed in by rocks on either side and tents behind you. The only exit is right in front of me. I've been watching you sneak away with my Pokémon food. Why risk it?"
No, I didn't! You're mistaken!
"Kip! Kip!" The Mudkip shook its head in denial.
"Really? Not going to admit it?" Ben scratched his chin. "Well, how about a battle? If I win, you'll become my partner!"
Battle? Bring it on!
The Mudkip thought for a moment, then struck a fighting pose. "Kip!"
Pokémon: Mudkip (Level 9)
- Gender: Male
- Personality: Jolly
- Ability: Torrent
- Friendship: 5
- Skills: Growl (33/100), Tackle (19/100), Water Gun (68/100), Rock Smash (25/100)
- Egg Moves: Mud-Slap (10/100), Double-Edge (10/100)
- Skill Machines: None
Seeing its impressive skills and potential friendship level, Ben smiled knowingly.
"Very good. Do you accept? Come on out, Onix!"
"Onixx!"
The Onix, excited to be part of the action, needed a reminder. "Be gentle, Onix! This little guy will be our partner."
The Onix nodded.
"Alright, use a small Rock Throw!"
"Nixx???" The Onix looked confused; there were no small stones around! With no other option, it used its tail to hit a small stone, sending it flying toward the Mudkip. While small for a 7.5-meter-long creature, for the 40-centimeter Mudkip, it was practically a boulder!
"Kip!" Unfazed, the Mudkip stood its ground, channeling fighting energy into its arms and smashing the flying rock with its own attack, Rock Smash!
With loud roars, the huge rock finally crumbled under the relentless strikes from the Mudkip. However, being only level 9, the Mudkip soon grew exhausted and collapsed to the ground, panting.
Ben admired its effort. "Well done! You really have talent! Keep it up!"
Without hesitation, he threw a Luxury Ball, which arced towards the Mudkip. 'Click!' The ball captured the little creature and fell to the ground.
Ben watched nervously. After all, this was his first successful capture of a wild Pokémon. He held his breath as the ball shook back and forth, finally settling into silence with a satisfying 'ping'.
"Success! Onix, we have our first partner!" Picking up the Poké Ball, joy surged through him. Capturing a Pokémon in this world brought an incredible sense of achievement, a feeling he wouldn't trade for anything.
"Come on out, Mudkip!"
"Kipkip!" When they met again, a bond formed between them. The Mudkip showed no fear; it understood that the young man before it was now its trainer and from this day forward, they would be inseparable.
"Hi there, my name is Ben, and this is my Onix. I hope we can all work well together!"
"Oni!"
"Mud...kip!"
Seeing his two Pokémon engaged in friendly communication brought Ben immense satisfaction. "Alright, let's head back! I've prepared some delicious food for you!"
Really? The Mudkip's eyes sparkled with excitement. Food was its favourite! It had confirmed its foodie status.
"Don't worry, you'll always have good meals ahead," Ben assured, grinning at the eager Mudkip. "Just relax and enjoy."
Thinking ahead, he decided to discuss with his mother about increasing the budget for Pokémon food. Plus, it would be easy for the Onix to gather resources back home, given their family's mining business. Ben felt both pained and pleased, having a mine at home certainly had its perks!
---
As dawn broke, Ben stirred awake, greeting the sun softly. "Good morning, Sun!"
He packed up everything he had set out the night before, stowing away the tent and placing the Poké Balls of Onix and Mudkip onto his belt before heading out towards Oldale Town.
After completing twenty days of special training, his next goal was to challenge gym leaders. The first destination? The Rock Gym in Rustboro City!
In the games, there were only eight gyms in the Hoenn region, but in reality, it was hard to believe such a vast area only had eight locations. In fact there where many more locations in Hoenn. While they might not be as famous as Petalburg or Slateport City, they were part of the Hoenn region and had their own unique charm, even if they weren't highlighted any of his old worlds media.
Many of these smaller towns were situated in special locations, often hosting unique competitions. For example, the Pokémon Arena in Yokobe Town showcased numerous Dragon-type Pokémon, while Meteor Village was where many Dragon-type Pokémon lived.
Overall, each town had its own distinct character, and Ben was eager to challenge the gyms located in these places. As long as he could earn badges, he would consider it a step closer to his goals.
At the Pokémon Centre in Oldale Town, Ben anxiously awaited the check-up results for his two Pokémon while chatting with his mother. At the same time, he studied the travel map of the Hoenn region. He noted that Rustboro City would be his first stop. His options expanded as he considered whether to challenge Dewford Town on his way back home or take the tunnel to Verdanturf Town. It seemed ideal to head straight to Mauville City to face the Electric Gym.
Avoiding boats would be fantastic, and he dreamed of acquiring a flying Pokémon in the future.
Lost in his vision, Nurse Joy had completed the inspection and returned the Poké Ball to Ben. After bidding her farewell, he set off once again on his journey to Petalburg City. As he walked along the road, he faced challenges from various Bug Catchers, and occasionally, wild Pokémon boldly appeared to block his path. When encountering weaker opponents, he would send out Mudkip to battle, allowing it to practice its skills and foster a better bond.
As he continued on his journey, Mudkip reached level 12, showing significant improvement in its skill proficiency. It even learned a new move, Water Pulse (10/100), which greatly enhanced its offensive capabilities. Meanwhile, the progress of his Onix was slower; it didn't level up much and its proficiency didn't increase significantly, as there weren't many strong opponents to face. However, it was important to keep its fighting spirit alive.
After dealing with a Zigzagoon and recalling the tired Mudkip, Ben finally arrived in Petalburg City. Without hesitation, he headed to the department store to restock the supplies he had used during his travels. After all, a trainer's journey should never be taken lightly.