PokeWild

David didn’t move when he woke. Instead he covered his eyes and tried to get another fifteen minutes of sleep.

Today was his day off.

Well, not really a day off. He still had his morning and evening patrol. And the constant task of trying to figure out how this world and all its messy logic worked. But, it was a day off from group training and battling.

Pidgey was also recovering from being healed yesterday. The Pokecenter receptionist had ordered, rather than suggested two days of light recovery work. He was in no way going to argue with them after seeing the Pokecenter's back room setup. He knew he hadn’t picked up on the full context of that meeting, but it was clear that the White Pokeball deserved the emphasis that people put on the name. The small token that Noah had given him was enough for the organization to bend if not break several laws.

It was a concerning discovery, but on a positive note, he seemed to be on their good side. Massive extralegal organization or not, they were supporting him.

Against Team Rocket, a massive terrorist organization.

He groaned and rolled over. Too much to think about right now. It was his day off. That was tomorrow's problem. Today was all about rest.

So while he still had to get up, he had nowhere to be and nothing to do after the patrol. He could take it easy.

-.-

“Morning.” David called up to the patio as he approached.

A put upon grunt echoed back from where Oliver sat with his back to David. It was the closest thing to an acknowledgement that the old man had given over the last few days.

The reason for Oliver's change in attitude stuck his head up quickly.

Michael climbed higher in his chair to get a better view over the patio railing. He gave David a wide wave.

David waved back and gave the kid a grin. “Good morning Michael. Are you staying here then?”

Michael nodded back eagerly. “I’m staying with Grampa for two weeks! Mom and dad left this morning.”

“Eat your breakfast,” Oliver ordered. The owner of Nature's Scent sounded grumpy but there was an undeniable softness to his tone as he spoke to his grandson.

Michael flicked his eyes back and forth between David and his grandfather, worry clear in his eyes.

Oliver sighed and looked at David. “There’s a plate for you David.”

The words seemed to be pulled from between his teeth.

Oliver turned back to his grandson. “Now eat while he gives the grove report. He’ll still be here when you’re done.”

David didn’t try very hard to hide his grin as he sat down opposite Michael. An expression Oliver had a clear view of from his usual spot at the head of the table. His thick mustache twitched in an amusing way.

He served himself as Michael shoveled down food at an incredible rate, clearly not fully believing his grandfather. David indicated to a plate of berries, Pidgey needed to eat too, but Oliver shook his head and bobbed it towards Michael. Not until his grandson had finished eating then. The young boy did tend to get a little excited around her.

“Not much to report this morning. No breaches in the fence and I didn’t see any Pokemon,” David began. “I found what might have been the start of a nest in a tree and took it down. No eggs or anything but a few short brown feathers.”

“Spearow or Pidgey?” Oliver asked, his mustache twitching.

Michael paused his shoveling.

David shrugged. “I’m not sure. They were quite small.” And he hadn’t seen a Spearow up close yet.

“Likely a Spearow following after the Fearow then. Keep an eye out for any more nests.”

David nodded and dug into the breakfast. That had been more words in one sentence than he’d heard from Oliver in the last three or so days. Michael had really pulled the old man out of his funk.

He didn’t get more than a few bites before he was interrupted.

“Have you fed your Pidgey yet?” Michael asked over an empty plate.

David swallowed his bite. “I haven’t yet.” His eyes flicked to Oliver who gave a grudging nod. He wasn’t getting out of this that easily it seemed. “Would you like to help?”

Michael nodded fast enough to make David feel dizzy and leapt out of his chair.

David gave his breakfast one last sad look before pushing his chair back and pulling Pidgey’s ball out from the sling around his neck. Best to treat this like any child and a big dog or animal back home. Oliver would stop them if they were about to do something stupid anyway.

“If you want to help you need to be careful alright? Don’t rush her, let her come to you. She will want to examine you first. Move slowly and pay attention to how she reacts. Pidgey might not want you to come too close.”

Michael nodded eagerly, fully focused on the pokeball. David had no idea if he had heard the instruction or not.

“And this is only okay because I’m here alright? Don’t approach wild anim-Pokemon or Pokemon on the street alright?” David continued, slowing only as he covered up his slip of the tongue. There. That should cover it right?

Michael nodded again a bit firmer. He’d heard that last part before it seemed.

“Alright,” David said and shot one last look at Oliver. The man hadn’t moved from his seat.

David clicked the button on Pidgey's pokeball and released her. He was well practiced with the timing now and avoided any of the flash. Michael on the other hand had been staring wide-eyed at where the pokeball was pointed. As Michael rubbed his eyes, David addressed Pidgey.

“Do you want some breakfast Pidgey? And there’s someone who wants to say hello.”

Pidgey didn’t respond for a moment, taking the time to scan the patio and house instead. She did slow to take in Michael and Oliver, but she recognized them and didn’t linger long.

Inspection done, she chirped and pecked her head forward.

David crouched down and took a seat slightly in front of Pidgey. Close enough to supervise this interaction.

“Will you grab a berry Michael? Nothing Sour.”

“Take the Touga,” Oliver instructed, already rubbing his forehead tiredly.

Michael snapped out of his confusion and ran to the table. Oliver pushed a small plate with the red carrot-like berry at him, a plate that had been set aside from the larger plate of berries.

“Place the Touga on the ground – not the plate – and take a step back,” David instructed.

Pidgey’s head tracked Michael and the Touga as he moved back towards them. To David’s delight she waited patiently as Michael placed the berry down.

As Michael stepped back, David gave Pidgey a short stroke along her back. “Go on.”

In two hops Pidgey shot forward and snapped up the Touga. She let out short happy chirps as she tore the spicy berry apart. He followed after her and settled down beside her again.

She slowed to savor the last section of her meal before shifting over and settling into a roosting position by his leg. David waved Michael forward.

“Pidgey, this is Michael. He’ll be staying here for the next two weeks. We’ll see him most mornings and evenings.”

Pidgey tilted her head to stare back at Michael as he vibrated excitedly a pace or so away. The kid was eager to come closer but it turned out he had paid attention to David’s instructions earlier.

Oliver let out a deep sigh.

“Would you be okay with Michael giving you a pet Pidgey?” David asked, giving her back a stroke as he did.

Pidgey narrowed her eyes at him and David braced for a cold feeling that never came. Pidgey looked down at where the Touga had been set on the ground before glancing back at the table. She let out a slow squawk and stood up. She hopped over to Michael and dipped her head forward a little.

Michael slowly, but eagerly reached forward with his hand and patted Pidgey’s crest feathers.

“So soft!” He exclaimed, patting again.

“You should have seen her when I got her,” David said with a smile. “She had more fluff than feathers.”

It was odd to compare his first reaction to Pidgey with Michael’s. At first he'd only seen Pidgey’s dangerous traits. The razor sharp beak. The talons clawing at the ground. To him, the small bird Pokemon had been the culmination of everything he didn’t know, understand and feared about this world.

Michael on the other hand grew up around Pokemon. Was he too young to see the dangers or consider them? Was it ignorance or bravery that allowed him to focus on the soft feathers?

Pidgey allowed one more pat before hopping back to David.

Michael stared after her sadly. He rubbed the hand he had used to pat her as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Michael, time to clean your plate,” Oliver ordered.

“But-”

“Everybody does their part and a man cleans up after himself,” Oliver said over Michael's objections. “Do it quickly and Pidgey will still be here.”

Michael looked torn but he moved to obey. Once he had disappeared inside the house with his plate, Oliver turned to David who was settling Pidgey down in his lap back at the table.

“Baby Pokemon. They turn every child’s head. If we had a bed of Oddish now, there would be a crowd here every morning.”

David hummed in response and picked up his fork. Then he paused.

“Was it a bit silly for me to tell him what to do around Pidgey? I guess he sees yours a lot.”

“Always better to repeat it. Children see only trained Pokemon these days and all those tournament battles don’t help.” Oliver shook his head. “And he’s only seen my team from a distance. Too dangerous.”

“Why?” David asked with a frown. Surely Pokemon that had been with Oliver for... what had to be a long time would be well-behaved.

Oliver placed his hand on the table and splayed his fingers out. “He hasn’t built any immunity,” He said simply. “He can’t see most of Jacob’s Pokemon either.”

And with that, Oliver closed his eyes. Conversation over.

David started to eat before Michael returned with questions.

-.-

After breakfast David found himself wandering into Celadon.

He didn’t have a destination or a goal. It was more to get away from the woods he spent the vast majority of his day in. Escaping Oliver’s growing glare as Michael pestered David for information on Pidgey didn’t hurt either.

It was Sunday and the city had a more relaxed feel to it. People ate in groups at long tables on balconies, like they did during the festival but slower. People strolled through the streets but there was no cheering or rush. It made David wonder if Kanto kept to a six-day week schedule. The city had been quieter yesterday, so a five-day week was possible but not as quiet as today. Maybe every industry worked schedules. Benny had been in the market every day but Beth had… The league office closed on Sundays.

He let the flow of people guide him and let his mind drift. Without realizing it, David found that he had ended up in front of the park he usually met the training group in.

David laughed at himself for his consistency. It wasn’t too much of a surprise he’d found his way here. It was one of the few routes he knew in the city. He must have unconsciously sought out an area he knew. He turned to leave only to stop as a green headband caught his eye.

Danny was petting Bulbasaur when he approached.

He waved and gave her a rueful smile. “You’re here too, huh?”

Danny looked up at him and laughed. “I realized I didn’t know anywhere else. I’m going to explore the city today.”

Bulbasaur nudged her hand as she slowed her petting. Danny gave it a fond slap as a rebuke but did return her concentration to the petting.

David released Pidgey and sat down. “Well let me know if you find anything interesting. I keep getting lost.”

Danny smirked.

“Everything looks the same,” David groused. “If it's not the endless apartments, it’s the boundless fields and orchards. I’d hate to be an architect here or even a builder.”

Now that got a snort out of Danny.

“I’m sure it has its advantages,” She defended only to sigh and crinkle her nose. She leaned forward and lowered her voice. “But it must get a bit boring right?”

“Right?” David nodded. “I’ll have to ask Sarah what the story is behind it. There has to be a law stopping people from having taste.”

Pidgey nudged him gently. He looked to see her fluff herself up a bit as she sat beside him. She was looking everywhere but at Danny and Bulbasaur. David smiled and started to smooth her crest, which always seemed askew, and comb through her feathers.

They descended into a comfortable silence but David knew he’d have to break it. He needed Danny’s help.

“What’s your home like?” He asked.

Danny shot him a guarded look and her hand stilled in the pets.

David raised his hands. “I don’t need details, just some general information about settlements.” He took a breath. “I’m not from one, but it’s easier than explaining where I am from.”

Danny still had that guarded look but it eased a little.

“They don’t have many Pokemon where you’re from do they?”

“What?” David answered in surprise. His eyes widened. Were there places in this world that didn’t have Pokemon? Or were there others like him? How had Danny known?

“You call them ‘it’ every now and again,” Danny explained, looking back at Bulbasaur as she petted it. “It’s not too odd, but people usually stop after meeting the Pokemon or learning their gender. You haven’t.”

“Oh,” David said dumbly. He looked at the Pokemon at Danny’s side. “Is Bulbasaur male or female.”

“She is female,” Danny said with a smile but she was watching him closely. “And that’s another clue.”

“What is?” David asked with a frown.

Danny just shook her head. “Never mind. I know that some people don’t want to be involved with Pokemon after the war and...” She paused and looked at Bulbasaur. ”I can understand why you’d want to get away.”

“Right,” David said but his shoulders dropped. No others like him then. No one else transported from his world that might have more information. At least, none well known anyway. There would be no easy answers for him.

Pidgey nudged him again and David was glad for the distraction. He started combing through her feathers again.

“What do you want to know?”

“Everything,” David answered. “I want to be able to answer questions about it if I have to.”

“Well... Most settlements were founded during the war. You know, by refugees escaping areas with fighting or people who wanted no part in the killing. But mine wasn’t. It was one of those created later by people who were... unhappy with city life and thought they could do better.”

“Okay.” David nodded. That made sense and fit the secretive way that people talked about settlements. “Did they just go out into the wild and build a town? Who owns the land? What about all the Pokemon?”

“Pretty much.” Danny shrugged. “They were all, or the successful ones anyway, founded by an eli-a strong trainer. You can’t create a new settlement by a city so they would have to take control of an area far from any patrolled routes. Most places failed at this point or after a bad swarm or migration. Wild Pokemon are everywhere. Settlements live and die on the strength of their trainers, far more so than the cities. The strongest Pokemon can take over kilometers of territory but most battling Pokemon struggle to claim a hundred meters.” She laughed. "And if anyone owned the land it wouldn't be wild would it?"

David was brought back to his encounter with the Growlithe. That forest of ash had been at least a couple of kilometers wide. But the Growlithe hadn’t approached him until he reached the area which was still burning and that was a much smaller zone. He’d been able to run through it before a pack of young Growlithe had caught him.

“And there’s no contact with the outside world?” David asked.

“Not officially,” Danny answered with a shrug. “I doubt any settlement is fully self-sufficient and there’s always luxuries and necessities like pokeballs that are needed. I’m sure that the Ranger Leaders and the Elite Four know about most too. Plus,” She waved down at herself and Bulbasaur.

“Right,” David said with a rueful smile. That was a bit of stupid question to ask someone from a settlement.

He had a few more questions and Danny a few more answers, but she refused to answer most. Danny stayed away from any topic related to her settlement’s Pokemon, trainers and location.

By the end David thought he'd be able to answer some questions about his 'home' if pressed.

Or at least lie convincingly.