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Chapter 46: Forging One's Own Path
🕑 Added 2024-12-07 19:24:31 +0000 UTCGladion sat in front of the video phone at the Vermillion City Pokémon Center, mentally preparing himself for the inevitable lecture. He'd been avoiding this call, knowing his parents would be worried sick because he had not called them since leaving for his journey.
The screen flickered to life, revealing his father's tear-streaked face and his mother's stern but relieved expression.
"GLADION!" Ben wailed immediately, pressing his face closer to the screen. "My precious boy! Why didn't you stay with your sister? Do you know how dangerous it is to travel alone? What if something happened to you? What if-"
"Ben, dear, please..." Erza gently pulled her husband back, though her expression remained serious. "Gladion, we received a call from Gwen a week ago. She's already in Pewter City, and she told us that you two split up deliberately. Care to explain?"
Gladion winced at his mother's tone. He knew that particular inflection - it was the same one she used when catching him training past bedtime. "Mom, Dad, I-"
"And don't think I haven't noticed you're calling from Vermillion City," Erza continued, her eyes narrowing. "That's quite far from the usual starter routes. What aren't you telling us?"
Ben burst into fresh tears. "My baby boy is taking dangerous shortcuts! You could have encountered wild Fearow! Or fallen off a cliff! Or-"
"Dad, I'm fine," Gladion interrupted, fighting the urge to roll his eyes. Some things never changed, even across worlds. "I've been careful, and I have my Pokemon with me."
"Speaking of Pokemon," Erza's voice grew even more suspicious, "Gwen mentioned you were planning to catch some new team members. Please tell me you stayed on the safe routes?"
Gladion shifted uncomfortably. He couldn't exactly tell them he'd teleported to Cinnabar Island and back. Cinnabar Island was known to be quite dangerous since Blaine has not taken control of it yet.
"I... made some additions to my team, yes. But I was careful! I always had my Pokemon with me, and-"
"ADDITIONS? PLURAL?" Ben's crying intensified. "My son is risking his life catching wild Pokemon without telling us!"
Gladion then and there decided that he would not be telling his parents that he caught a magby and an Elekid. These Pokemon were known to have protective parents and were very aggressive. While his mom would forget about this after seeing his Magby, his dad would cry him a river.
Erza placed a calming hand on her husband's shoulder. "Gladion, we trust your judgment, but you're still our child. We need to know you're safe. Why didn't you travel with your sister?"
Gladion took a deep breath. This was the moment to explain his reasoning. "Mom, Dad, I know you're worried, but this is something both Gwen and I needed to do separately."
His parents fell silent, waiting for him to continue.
"Remember what Grandpa Maren always said about finding your own path? Gwen and I... we're different trainers with different styles. By traveling separately, we can each grow in our own way." He paused, gathering his thoughts. "Plus, we made a promise to meet at the League and see who becomes stronger. It's our way of honoring Grandpa's memory and also get to decide who gets to keep his room."
Ben's crying softened as Erza's expression grew thoughtful.
"Besides," Gladion added with a small smile, "you both traveled alone when you started, right? And you've taught us everything we need to know about surviving in the wild. We're prepared."
Erza sighed, a hint of pride mixing with her concern. "You sound just like your grandfather when you talk like that. He always believed in letting trainers find their own way."
"But..." Ben sniffled, "you'll call more often? Promise?"
"I promise, Dad. At least once a week, okay?"
"And you'll be careful?" Erza added. "No unnecessary risks?"
"Of course, Mom. I've got my Pokemon watching out for me too."
After a few more minutes of reassurances (and several more crying sessions from Ben), his parents finally agreed to let him continue his separate journey, though with strict instructions to call regularly and stay safe.
After ending the call, Gladion leaned back in his chair, releasing a long breath. He hadn't told them about Arsenal or Zeus yet - that conversation could wait for another day. They'd probably figure it out eventually, but by then, his new Pokemon would be well-trained and integrated into the team.
Speaking of training... Gladion stepped outside the Pokemon Center, breathing in the fresh morning air. He could teleport to Pewter City, but something inside him yearned for the traditional journey experience.
His previous life's memories of Pokemon games and anime flickered through his mind - all those adventures on different Routes, the training montages, the gradual building of bonds between trainer and Pokemon.
"Time for some real training," he muttered, releasing Arsenal, Zeus, and Hydros from their Pokeballs. The Magby and Elekid still had occasional rivalry spats, but they were improving. Hydros, being more experienced, often played mediator.
He decided to focus on these three members since they were the newest members in his team and needed more training than the others.
"Alright, team," he addressed his Pokemon. "We're going to walk to Pewter City the traditional way. No more teleporting for a while - we'll use this time to train and grow stronger together."
Zeus crackled with electricity, eager to show off his growing power. Arsenal's flames burned brightly in response to the challenge. Hydros just nodded, already used to his trainer's training methods.
As they started walking, Gladion couldn't help but smile. In his previous life, he'd dreamed of being a Pokemon trainer, but the reality was so much better than any game or show. The weight of his Pokeballs at his belt, the sound of his Pokemon training beside him, the wind carrying the scent of adventure - it was all real.
"Arsenal, work on controlling your flame temperature! Zeus, try focusing your electricity into smaller, more precise bolts! Hydros, show them how to maintain consistent power output!" He called out training instructions as they walked, watching his Pokemon practice with growing pride.
This was what being a trainer was really about - not just the battles and badges, but the journey itself. The small moments of growth, the gradual strengthening of bonds, the daily challenges and victories. Sure, he could teleport straight to each gym, but where was the fun in that?
Plus, he had to admit, his parents had a point about being careful. His knowledge from his previous life was both a blessing and a curse - he knew what Pokemon could evolve into, but he also knew the real dangers of this world. Team Rocket was out there somewhere, and who knew what other threats existed in this reality?
"Better to take it slow and steady," he murmured, watching Zeus and Arsenal attempting to combine their attacks under Hydros's guidance. "We've got time to grow stronger together."
As the sun climbed higher in the sky, Gladion and his Pokemon continued their journey, leaving Vermillion City behind. The road to Pewter City would be long, but that was exactly how he wanted it. After all, sometimes the longest path was the most rewarding one.
The first gym badge would come in time. For now, he had two new Pokemon to train, a world to explore, and a promise to keep - both to his sister and to himself. And somewhere, he liked to think Grandpa Maren was watching, nodding in approval at his grandson's choice to forge his own path.
