A Soul of Silver: The Johto tales

Chapter 5: A burning heart

"When I was a little Cyndaquil, I lived with just my mama. She was a really pretty Quilava. And really kind too."

I nodded at Clara with a smile and she continued her story.

"When I was sad, mama would use her flames to keep me warm and cuddle with me. Her fur was really really soft, a lot like yours!" When she said that last word, she began snuggling against me before carrying on.

"Mama and me were out in the forest to get ourselves some berries. See, I was kinda hungry."

"Clara, I've known you for just one day and you were almost eating all the time!", I replied with a playful tone, followed by a chuckle.

Clara giggled a bit. "True. Anyway, mama and I were getting ourselves some berries when she looked around and told me to duck."

"To duck? Why?"

A moment of silence filled the room. "Mama ran off, telling me to hide, which I did. After some while, I heard something."

"What did you hear?"

Small tears filled Clara's eyes. "I...I heard fire burning and mama was shouting. I didn't know what happened, but mama didn't return... I think she left me."

Embracing Clara, I was shedding a tear now too. Normally I'm not the kind of guy that cries easily. But this was so real. This was sort of a little girl telling me her mother was... well, dead. I knew about the Cubone and Marowak story in Lavender Town from the first Pokémon games, which didn't affect me too much as they were only games. But this... This made me realize I wasn't just in a game anymore. I was in the actual world, with actual Pokémon having actual feelings instead of only Natures and character traits. Clara was now crying on my lap, her face rubbed against my chest, getting my fur soaked in her tears.

"W-When mama was gone, a strange Pokémon found me. H-He was all black and had big white horns, a hooked tail and red eyes, and I think he was hurt on his side..."

I began thinking. A hooked tail, all black, horns... Considering there was fire, and the Pokémon that found Clara clearly survived it, it had to either a Houndour or Houndoom.

"He told me his name was Houndoom..."

And with that, I was certain. A Houndoom must've found her back then.

"He took me with him and his trainers. They were dressed funny, all in black and white. They also wore a big red letter on their clothes."

I was shocked. Team Rocket? ...Why was I so surprised about that? I know the story of this game, nothing should surprise me. Maybe this world began affecting me, changing me into an effective character here, I don't know. Either way, I was more surprised about Clara being taken to Team Rocket.

"Mister Houndoom trained me for a while, but I couldn't use any Fire attacks. His Trainer didn't like that, so he told Mister Houndoom to take me away."

And here I sat, crying along with Clara. So this Trainer, probably some Rocket Grunt, actually abandoned Clara after finding her too weak? What a butt.

"I ran and ran and I didn't know where to go until that doctor mister caught me in that Pokéball."

Still shedding tears, I nodded. She meant Veritas with that. And I was relieved to hear that.

"And then I ended up with you. You're a really nice Trainer, Sand."

"Thanks, Clara. You're a really nice Cyndaquil too.", I replied right away, wiping my tears and smiling again.

"...I hope you won't abandon me like mama or Mister Houndoom..."

"Never, Clara. I'd never abandon my best friend." With that answer, I hugged her tighter and subconciously kissed her head, as if she was a little sister or something.

In response to that, Clara nuzzled my nose and fell asleep thanking me. I felt that Clara really liked me, that she felt comfortable with me. It was almost as if I were her mama. And I knew we'd go through whatever adventures we'd meet, we'd go through them together.

I snuggled under my blanket again, keeping Clara hugged safely in my arms. After all, tomorrow would be quite a long day. Slowly, I fell asleep, a smile covering my face. My adventure had finally begun...