The Solitary Mudkip

Recently, Professor Birch had been keeping Zeno busy learning about Pokémon ecology, leaving him no time to play with Sapphire. So she dragged Ruby along instead. After all, the ecological park belonged to her family, and no one dared stop her.

Although he had no intention of having Zeno inherit his work, Professor Birch still hoped he would learn more, so he had always been strict with him.

Since he had Zeno with him, Professor Birch did not dare take him into the wilderness. So today, he taught him in the ecological park. While it was not as representative as the wild, it was more than sufficient for teaching.

Professor Birch did most of the talking while Zeno took notes beside him. Occasionally, the professor asked a few questions, but Zeno answered every one of them exceptionally well. Professor Birch was very pleased. Teaching a clever student really was easy.

Just as the two were about to pack up and head back, Zeno noticed a blue figure and could not help stopping.

Professor Birch followed his gaze and realized it was a Mudkip. He remembered this one quite clearly. It was one of the more troublesome problem children at the institute.

"Interested in Mudkip?"

Professor Birch had heard from his daughter that Zeno seemed to like Mudkip. Unfortunately, the Mudkip that came to their institute were generally already registered. He wondered whether he should use his connections to get one for his young apprentice.

"Professor, why is that Mudkip always playing by itself?"

Its companions were not far away, yet this Mudkip would rather spin around alone than join them. Zeno had thought it was being excluded.

"How should I put it? Its personality is not very sociable. It does everything alone, like a lone wolf."

"From the looks of it, it should be assigned to a new Trainer soon, right? Will it be okay acting like this?"

"It'll be fine. I contacted the child who reserved it, and he said he did not mind those issues. He personally likes quieter Pokémon."

Professor Birch had previously worried that no one would want this child. He had not expected it to find such a suitable owner.

"That's great."

"Can't you communicate with Water-type Pokémon? When you have time, try to encourage it a little. Its personality may be similar to its owner's, but communication is essential if they want to build a bond."

"Alright, I understand."

Zeno had already been worried about this Mudkip, and with his teacher's request, he paid even more attention to it.

This Mudkip was truly wary of outsiders. The first day Zeno went to see it, it ran away the moment he approached, giving him no chance at all. Zeno could only helplessly leave some food where it usually stayed. It had been prepared according to the tastes of ordinary Mudkip, though he did not know whether it would suit this one.

Zeno was still very worried about it. No matter how good-tempered its owner might be, it would be difficult for them to get along harmoniously with the Pokémon acting like this.

When Zeno went to see it the next day, he found that all the food had been eaten. He was not sure whether Mudkip had eaten it, so he left more in the same spot. It still refused to let him get close. This Mudkip was far too solitary, and that was not good.

Over the next few days, Zeno came to check on it whenever he had time. He no longer tried to approach it, instead observing from afar. Mudkip occasionally ate some of the food he left, but more often, it gave it to the smaller Mudkip. This surprised Zeno. He had not expected it to be such a warm-hearted little guy.

The two maintained this way of getting along. Zeno felt that its willingness to accept another's goodwill was already a wonderful sign.

A week later, Zeno brought food to Mudkip as usual. After setting it down, he hid in the distance to observe as always. Several young Mudkip knew there was delicious food here every day and arrived right on time.

Just as they were about to feast, a fierce-looking Quagsire swam out of the pond. The young Mudkip were terrified at the sight of it and huddled together in fright. Quagsire sat down before them and began enjoying their food.

Seeing Quagsire act so overbearing, Zeno was just about to step out and say something when he saw that aloof Mudkip leap out from behind a rock.

"Gala!!"

Mudkip sounded furious, as though it were telling Quagsire to get lost and saying that the food was not for it.

"Quag~"

Quagsire did not care. So what if it ate it? Did these little fish really dare act so arrogantly in front of it?

When Mudkip saw it continue eating, it curled its tail around a clump of mud and hurled it at Quagsire. Busy eating, Quagsire did not notice Mudkip's movement and was directly plastered across the face.

"Mud-Slap."

Zeno was a little surprised to see Mudkip use that move. He remembered it was an inherited move, one that ordinary Mudkip could not learn. It seemed this Mudkip had quite a bit of talent.

"Quag! Quag!!"

Quagsire barely opened its eyes and saw several little Mudkip laughing at it. It immediately flew into a rage from embarrassment. It decided to teach this little fish that did not know its place a proper lesson.

Quagsire opened its huge mouth and fired mud pellets at Mudkip one after another. Compared to Mudkip's earlier clump of mud, Quagsire's mud pellets were faster and more powerful, leaving numerous craters wherever they struck.

Mudkip dodged while shielding the young ones as they fled. Seizing an opportunity, Quagsire gathered water around its tail and viciously whipped it at Mudkip. To protect the young ones, Mudkip took the attack head-on. The gap in strength between it and Quagsire was too great. The attack severely injured it and knocked it to the ground, unable to move.

Zeno had not expected Quagsire to fight so underhandedly. By the time he reacted, Mudkip had already been seriously injured. Seeing that Quagsire still refused to let up, he quickly released Carvanha.

"Carvanha, Aqua Jet! Ram Quagsire away."

The water gathered around Carvanha slammed Quagsire away. Quagsire looked up and saw another fish. Just as it was about to teach this one a lesson too, it spotted Zeno. Quagsire recognized him. This human often gave them delicious food, so it was better not to provoke him. It could only reluctantly retreat into the pond.

"Mudkip, are you alright?"

Zeno checked its body, but Mudkip was very uncooperative. It did not like being touched. Seeing that its vital areas had not been injured, Zeno sprayed some medicine on its wounds and fed it an Oran Berry. The moment Mudkip's injuries improved, it immediately tried to leave.

"Mudkip, I don't know what you've been through, but I think there is beauty in this world. Friends are an indispensable part of life. If you can, I hope you'll try reaching out to others."

Hearing Zeno's words, Mudkip paused for a moment before continuing forward. Zeno felt that it was cold on the outside but warm on the inside. He could tell from how it gave food to the young Mudkip and stood up for them.

After the Quagsire incident, Zeno and Mudkip's relationship eased considerably. It no longer rejected his approach. Zeno often shared interesting things with it, while it sat quietly there. He did not know whether it truly listened.