Tom fell over, smoke curling up from his singed armor as he gritted his teeth against the stinging pain. His hair stood on end, and his entire body felt like it was buzzing from the shock. The other soldiers, wide-eyed and startled, had to stifle their laughter after confirming Tom was still ok. Even Captain Valen couldn't hide his grin completely. Tom was not a man to be taken down easily, but seeing him humbled by such a small creature was undeniably amusing.
Elekid, meanwhile, stood with its tiny fists clenched and a triumphant smirk on its face. Sparks still crackled between its pronged horns, and its eyes were locked on Tom as if daring him to underestimate it again.
Daniel, who had been watching the entire scene with a knowing smile, finally spoke up. "I did warn you," he said lightly. "Elekid might be small, but underestimating a Pokémon based on size is a mistake many learn to make only once."
Tom quickly got up, deslpite the lingering pain and glared at Daniel then back at Elekid. Now it stood in front of the wooden chest that it had been trying to reach earlier. "You… you little…" Tom began, but he stopped as he caught Elekid's gaze. What he saw there made him pause. There was no malice in Elekid's eyes, just a fierce determination. The little Pokémon was challenging him, demanding to be seen as more than just a nuisance.
Elekid tilted its head, as if questioning Tom's next move. Slowly, the anger and embarrassment faded from Tom's face. He knelt down to Elekid's level, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "You've got some guts, I'll give you that."
Elekid's eyes softened slightly. It hesitated for a moment, then pointed at the chest, indicating the berries it had been after. Tom raised an eyebrow. "You want these?" he asked.
Elekid nodded vigorously.
Tom glanced at Daniel, who gave him an encouraging nod. With a sigh, Tom reached down and opened the chest. "Fine," he muttered, pulling out a handful of berries and holding them out to Elekid. "Here you go."
Elekid eyed him warily, then slowly approached. It grabbed a berry from Tom's hand and stuffed it into its mouth, its eyes never leaving Tom's face. The soldiers watched in silence, the room filled with uncertainty of how this interaction would play out.
Then, something unexpected happened. Elekid finished its berry and looked up at Tom, a look of gratitude in its eyes. It stepped forward and, with a determined expression, placed one tiny hand on Tom's knee. A small jolt of electricity ran through Tom's leg—not painful, just a light zap, almost like a handshake.
Tom chuckled, a sound that surprised even him. "So that's your way of saying thanks, huh, not even a little sorry for that stunt you just pulled?" He reached out and patted Elekid's head while shaking his own in resignation. Elekid's eyes widened in surprise, then it leaned into the touch, closing its eyes with a small hum of contentment.
Daniel observed with a satisfied expression. "Seems like Elekid has decided you're worth its time. That's quite an honor."
The other soldiers exchanged glances, their previous tension easing. Captain Valen, however, was still watchful. He could see the potential of this bond forming between man and Pokémon, but he was also wary of the power that Elekid had displayed. 'Could such creatures truly be tamed? Or was this just a fragile moment of peace?'
Tom and Elekid remained like that for a moment, an understanding passing between them. Tom, feeling something stir within him that he hadn't felt in a long time. Finally, he stood up, keeping his eyes on the yellow ball of life in front of him.
"Alright," Tom said gruffly, trying to maintain his composure. "Maybe you can show me what else you've got, Elekid."
Elekid's eyes lit up, and it jumped up and down in excitement, waving at Tom to follow it. Dashing out of the cabin, it headed toward the edge of the clearing surrounding the cabin. Without thinking, Tom followed it, a sense of curiosity unknowingly getting the better of him. The rest of the group watched, curious, as the unlikely pair moved outside.
~~~
The sky was darkening, the sun beginning to set on the horizon. Elekid stood at the edge of the clearing, its body crackling with anticipation. Tom approached cautiously, unsure of what to expect next.
Elekid turned to him, its expression serious. It raised its small arms and emitted a burst of electricity into the surroundings. The bolts danced across the clearing, lighting up the area in a brilliant display, dying out somewhere within the treeline. Tom shielded his eyes for a moment, stunned by the energy that the small creature could produce.
Daniel, who now stood on the porch with everyone else, called out to Tom. "Elekid wants to show you its strength. It wants you to see it not just as a creature, but as a partner. What it just did, that was a signal to the surrounding Pokémon. It's as if he was was announcing his superiority, challenging someone to come and prove him wrong."
Tom nodded hesitantly, unsure about his part in this. Before he could get the chance to ask Daniel though, a Pokémon emerged from the other side of the clearing, it's condesending demeanor apparent as it sized up Elekid.
It was a small, blue duck-like Pokémon with a round, plump body. It has a fluffy white tuft on top of its head and small wings that resemble feathered flippers. Its eyes are large and expressive, with a yellow beak and webbed feet that are perfect for swimming. With wings that have a white underside, they add a contrast to its otherwise blue appearance. The overall appearance, resembling a baby duck.
"Ah, it's a Ducklett. It seems as if Elekid will have an advantage in this battle." Daniel said, almost to himself, but the nearby soldiers were listening closely to his words. "How can you tell?" One of the men asked, clearly eager to see another display of battle from these creatures.
"Well Ducklett is a water and flying type of Pokémon. Elekids electric based attacks will do massive amounts of damage because it's a weakness for both of the the Ducklett's typings."
Hearing this the men were surprised, but didn't think much of it. Captain Valen on the other hand grasped a deeper meaning of Daniel's words. 'It seems that these 'typings' have a great influence on a Pokémon's style and effectiveness in battle.' He thought, mentally committing this bit of information to memory.
A distance away, Elekid met the Ducklett's gaze, a spark of determination passing between them. Tom, seeing this moved to grab his sword from his waist, ready to help.
However, Daniel's voice suddenly reached his ears, halting his actions. "This is a battle between Pokémon, not something you should interfere in. Your role in times like this is to offer guidance and act as a Elekids commander, nothing more, nothing less."
Elekid looked back at Tom. Their gazes met, an unspoken understanding seeming to come from the two. Lowering his hand from his sword, Tom spoke with enthusiasm that he hadn't felt in a long time. "Alright Elekid, you can trust me."
Elekid nodded, turning his head back to the Ducklett. Without warning, Ducklett makes the first move, flapping its wings to summon a small wave of water. The Water Gun rushes towards Elekid, and Tom instinctively shouts, "Dodge it, quick!" Elekid jumps to the side, just narrowly avoiding the splash of water, its agility saving it from a direct hit. It turns back to Ducklett, awaiting Tom's next order.
"Okay, we've got to hit back," Tom mutters. He remembers when Elekid used spark of electricity to attack him not that long ago. "Try using your electricity! Send it toward Ducklett!"
Elekid's eyes light up at the familiar instruction. It raises its arms, generating an electric charge that crackles loudly in the clearing. With a grunt of effort, Elekid releases a burst of electricity toward Ducklett. The Electric-type energy arcs through the air, heading straight for Ducklett, who attempts to evade but gets struck by the tail end of the shock. Ducklett squawks in surprise, its body briefly seizing up from the electric current.
"Nice one!" Tom cheers, feeling a surge of pride. "Keep up the pressure, but stay careful. If it tries to hit you with water again, get out of the way."
Ducklett, recovering, spreads its wings wide and takes to the air, circling above Elekid. It flaps hard, sending a gust of wind downwards in an attempt to destabilize Elekid. Wind blades surround Elekid, causing several small cuts to appear on its skin.
"Hold your ground, buddy! Focus and be ready!" he calls out. Elekid digs its feet into the ground, bracing itself against the wind. Tom looking at the opponent for an opening. He notices it start to spazm in mid-air. The lingering effects of the last attack, making itself apparent.
"Now, hit it with another electric attack!" Tom commands. Elekid with a grunt of affirmation, raises its arms once more. Focusing its energy, and a bolt of electricity shoots upward toward Ducklett. This time, the bolt strikes true, zapping Ducklett mid-air. Ducklett lets out a pained cry as it tumbles from the sky, crashing to the ground in a daze.
"Alright, let's end this quickly!" Tom shouts, seeing their chance. "Go in with a full force punch!" Elekid, now filled with adrenaline and trust in Tom's commands, charges forward, its fist crackling with residual electricity. It reaches Ducklett, who is struggling to get back up, and delivers a swift, electrically charged punch.
Ducklett collapses with a soft thud, unable to continue the fight. Elekid steps back, breathing heavily, looking to Tom for approval.
Tom felt his breath catch in his throat. This was more than just a display of power—it was a declaration. Elekid was showing him that it was willing to give everything it had, to fight, to and to protect.
Tom swallowed hard, feeling a lump in his throat. He had seen many things in his life, felt all kinds of emotions. But this… this was something new. He stepped forward and knelt before Elekid, looking into its eyes.
"You've got spirit bud," he said quietly. "I guess you're tougher than you look... wouldn't mind having someone like you to watch my back."
Elekid's eyes brightened significantly. Without warning, it jumped up and wrapped its small arms around Tom's neck in a surprisingly strong embrace. Tom hesitated for a moment, then returned the gesture, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.