Ch.20

Surprising both me and Swinub, Primeape holds out his hand sharing some of his treats. Since the first time I got Primeape, he has not cared for anyone but me and Leo, so seeing him being friendly to an unknown Pokémon was very surprising. Swinub stood still in surprise and fear but sniffed the air before slowly approaching us again. 

Then it cautiously took the food from Primeape, with Primeape sitting down in front of Swinub. The two began to talk as Primeape seemed to start a conversation with the tiny Pokémon. Swinub just appeared to be listening to whatever it was Primeape was saying to it. Then Swinub looked past Primeape to give me a look like it was judging me. 

"Uhm? Primeape, what's going on?" I say seeing Swinub nod its head before walking over to me slowly and cautiously before giving me a sniff. 

"Swin-swinub," Swinub says nodding its head before looking back to Primeape who gives it a thumbs up. 

"What the hell is happening right now?" I say very confused. 

"Seems Swinub has taken an interest in you and Primeape. As Primeape seemed to convince it to join you guys on your journey," I hear Uncle Fuji say to me as he must have heard the commotion coming outside to see what was happening. 

"Is that true? Swinub you want to become part of my team?" I say as I look at the small fluffy Pokémon, as it nods its head to me. Primeape is giving me a thumbs up like he is telling me that Swinub would be a good addition to our team. 

'God, I hope Swinub has a decent potential. Otherwise, this will cost me a lot of money to possibly raise it,' I think to myself seeing the two Pokémon waiting for me to agree. With both looking at me and Swinub giving me puppy dog eyes, I can't really deny them. 

"Uncle Fuji, are you ok with this? Also, what is Swinub's story?" I say to my Uncle while the two Pokémon look to my Uncle. Though Swinub seems sad thinking about its reason for being here. 

"Swinub was in the mountains on the board of Kanto and Johto… His herd was being hunted down by some poachers killing Mamoswine for their tusks. His herb was defending the younger Pokémon, but slowly losing. He was one of the few who escaped, I found him almost dead in an icy cave. So I took him in and nurtured him back to health… To be honest, other than me really didn't trust or approach other people. I am surprised he wants to join you. Whatever Primeape told him must have been very convincing," Uncle Fuji says while patting Swinub on the head making the small Pokémon grunt in happiness. 

'I guess Primeape told him about the time I saved him from almost being killed,' I think as the small Pokémon is looking at me still waiting for an answer. 

"Swinub, if you join us you will be expected to train and become as strong as you possibly can. Are you sure you are up to that?" I say wanting to make sure Swinub understands that he will be expected to pull his weight. 

"Swin-swinub!" Swinub says with a very determined look on its face, as Primeape gives me a nod of his head. 

"Ok," I say taking out a Pokéball and placing it on the ground. 

Swinub walks over with still some slight hesitation before absolute determination flashes across its face. Swinub then touches the Pokéball allowing it to catch him with no resistance. I pick up the Pokéball and register Swinub to me while checking out his stats. I was very surprised to see what the little Pokémon's potential was, which was Green the same as Primeape's potential. This means Swinub should be even easier to raise the potential of possibly even reaching Purple one day. 

"Welcome to the family," I say to Swinub as he comes back out of the Pokéball. Primeape gives Swinub a pat on the head like an older brother would. 

"Leo! Come meet our newest member!" I shout to Leo who is running around with Eevee and some Houndour. 

Noticing the small group of Houndour I think maybe I can get a piece of fur from them to give Leo that small boost before evolving him. Leo then runs over hearing me and Primeape appears to be explaining what just happened. Leo then sniffs Swinub with Swinub sniffs Leo in return, the two Pokémon then stare at one another with scrutinizing looks. 

"Grow-growlithe," Leo says nodding his head as if he approves of Swinub like he is the boss of my Pokémon. I guess Leo would be the leader after me since he is my starter and strongest Pokémon. 

"Uncle Fuji, do you have any Fire or Rock Type items that help boost a Pokémon's stats? If so can I buy them from you?" I say as my two Pokémon are now speaking with Swinub our newest member. 

"I could ask some of the Pokémon… though I am not sure what potential any of these Pokémon have. I never really measured any of them, especially since they are all still considered wild. I've only ever had Espeon as my official Pokémon," Uncle Fuji says with a shrug. 

"That is fine, I'll buy whatever you can find. And speaking of Espeon, where is she?" I say since I haven't seen her since I've been here. 

"Probably inside sleeping still, she gets lazier as the years go by," Uncle Fuji says with a laugh. Then speaking of the devil, the pink cat-looking Pokémon with a red gem on its forehead, saunters outside while stretching in the sunlight. 

"Hey Espeon!" I say waving at the pink Pokémon who just nods her head, before licking her paws clean. 

"Let me go ask around and I'll get back to you," Uncle Fuji says walking off to ask about some items from the many species of Pokémon he has living on his property. 

"So, Swinub… Let's talk," I say sitting back down as my three Pokémon look at me. 

I then talked to Swinub about what is expected of him now that he is a part of our team and family. Then explain to him what I want him to start doing after having looked at his stats. After having this conversation along with the help of Primeape and Leo, we were able to show Swinub how he can start training. 

Then later in the afternoon, we went back inside to have dinner. I tried to help Ali cook, but she denied it saying she had it under control. So instead we just talked while she cooked, with Uncle Fuji coming back inside holding some different items. Much to the annoyance of Ali, he dumped them on the table. 

"I was able to ask for a bit of fur from Houndoom, a chunk of rock from Graveler, and a feather from Farfetch'd," Uncle Fuji says and then I use the Pokédex to scan them. 

The fur from Houndoom was Red Ranked the same as the chunk of rock from Graveler. The feather from Farfetch'd though was Orange Ranked. I then told them this as they two nodded their heads. As I told them I looked up the going prices for these items. 

"I transferred the amount I owe you and don't tell me otherwise," I say to my Uncle who was about to argue that I didn't need to pay. 

"You have this place to run, you need the money I bet. Maybe you should consider selling these items once in a while to the league to keep this place running," I say to my Uncle who sighs but nods his head. 

"I told him that too," Ali says agreeing with me. 

"I guess…" Uncle Fuji says and I give Leo the fur from Houndoom and the chunk of rock from Graveler. With Primeape getting the feather, Swinub just looked slightly down not getting anything. So I gave Swinub some berries I had since his species loves berries. 

After dinner, Leo and Primeape went to the guest room we'd be staying at while we are in Lavender Town. Leo and Primeape began to absorb the items, with Swinub coming outside with me. We joined Ali as she roamed around with her weird device, along with Eevee and Espeon following close behind Ali. Espeon, Eevee, and Swinub were talking as I was silently walking next to Ali who was mumbling to herself while jotting down the info from her device. 

"So is it safe for you to be doing this? What if you run into a high-ranked Pokémon?" I say as Ali is walking toward the outskirts of town away from the protection keeping the Ghost Type Pokémon out. 

"That's why I have Eevee and Espeon too, plus the really strong Ghost Pokémon don't come close to town. They are way deeper in the forest," Ali says as we leave the safety of the town and enter the forest. 

Espeon was Dutchess Ranked Pokémon so she could easily handle the lower ranked Ghost Type Pokémon. Though if for some reason we ran into a King/Queen Ranked one, we'd be in huge trouble. There is usually one of them deep in the forests taking a part of the forest as their territory. However, you would have to travel very deep into the wilderness since they avoid humans. 

The only wild Pokémon ever recorded at Emperor/Empress Rank have been the rare legendary Pokémon that roam the world. So far the only two Pokémon ever recorded at God Rank are Mew and Rayquaza. I assume some of the other mythical Pokémon are at that level too, but have not been seen in person or been recorded if having been seen in person. 

"What?!" Ali says randomly as her device starts beeping like crazy. 

Then the three Pokémon following stop with them each looking around on edge. At that moment my psychic abilities also alert me several very dark and powerful Pokémon are approaching us. Espeon jumps forward near Ali placing herself between the coming signatures and Ali. As Eevee jumps next to Espeon too, Swinub steels himself before doing the same. 

Coming from out of the darkness are three Haunters who look at us all with deep hunger in their eyes. Ali begins furiously writing down the information before the three Pokémon launch themselves at us. Espeon goes on the offensive at the same time, Eevee using Helping Hand to boost Espeon. 

"Swinub, use Mist and keep it up as long as you can!" I say with Swinub nodding his head releasing a small mist covering Espeon and Eevee protecting them from getting their stats lowered. 

The two Haunters team up against Espeon, while the third is targeting Eevee. Though I use my abilities to send a blast of psychic energy at it. The Haunter screeches in pain as my attack is super effective against it. It gives me a deadly glare as I use my powers to form an invisible barrier protecting me and Ali. Seems I reacted in time to prevent it from using Night Shade affecting either of us. 

"Ali, don't move! Stay beside me I have a barrier up keeping us safe for now! Espeon I will take care of this one, the rest of you help Espeon deal with the other two!" I say as the three Pokémon try to complement each other to take out the two other Haunters. 

I then began invading the Haunter's mind to land a Confusion, which was successful. The Haunter screeches again in pain before charging up a large Shadow Ball and launching it at us. It slams into the barrier as I grunt feeling my energy drain faster, trying to keep the barrier up. 

'Seems I need to drop it and blast the Haunter with everything I have to take it out,' I think to myself, as Espeon and the others finally take out one of the other Haunters. 

"Swinub, release a very heavy Mist!" I say hoping to blind the Haunter long enough to charge up my remaining energy which is dropping fast as the Haunter is launching Shadow Ball after Shadow Ball at my barrier. 

Swinub releases a very obscured mist making it impossible to see through. With only Espeon and I seeing through it fine with our psychic abilities. I then grab Ali making her yelp at the sudden move. Carrying her in a princess carry I run away while dropping my barrier and charging up all the remaining energy I have. 

I release the energy directed toward the Haunter whose eyes widen at the attack, with it hitting him. Haunter screams out in pain and anger before exploding and disbursing showing I killed it. The last Haunter then tried to escape but Espeon was able to intercept it and finish it off. I then fall to my knees while placing Ali down gently and trying not to pass out. 

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AN: This is directed to 'evolvedcat', I have considered your request about Shuckle… I will add it to the main team as I have plans with it now. I also know another one I will add, but I am still considering one more Pokémon to the main team. Any suggestions?