Arriving back at camp, Ares spotted Mew sleeping peacefully on his sleeping bag. He couldn't help but chuckle in self deprecation, his expression turning wry at the fact that he and his pokemon had been in a precarious situation just moments ago, while Mew was peacefully counting Mareep without a care in the world. Yet he expected nothing less from her. Everything was just entertainment for her to enjoy. Maybe if he was truly in danger would she lift a paw to help him out.
"Pidgey, this is my other companion I wanted to introduce you to. Meet Mew, my benefactor and friend."
Pidgey looked at Mew. She looked cute and harmless, but Pidgey could feel the danger radiating from her. He shouldn't mess with her. It would end up being the last thing he did. No matter how strong he might be or become in the future, he was no match for her.
"No need to be shy, you guys go train. Show Pidgey the ropes while I make some food."
Ares pushed Pidgey towards Eevee and Lucario, letting them train Pidgey for now until he was finished. After lunch, he would train Pidgey himself, discovering what moves it knew and what moves it could learn.
He quickly let Pichu out as well, who quickly joined the other pokemon, curious to the new addition to the family. She had been mostly resting, as she was easily exhausted. Now that there was a new addition to the team, maybe she could get some tips on how to build her stamina.
Pidgey was suddenly surrounded by the other pokemon, greetings were exchanged and Lucario showed Pidgey how he trained. Lucario showed a series of quick jabs, kicks and leg sweeps, which were all infused with aura. Each move flowed effortlessly into the other, making a rather fluid display of skill. While it might not be the best example on how to train for a Pidgey, Pidgey still quietly observed the display as closely as he could, wanting to learn at least a bit. Like how to harness his inner flying type energy, as much as Lucario was using his aura with ease.
Leaving the pokemon to their own devices, Ares started to make their food. He finally bonded a bit more with his new pokemon and he looked forward to travel with them.
[Aresss! Please make that yummy food!]
A sleepy Mew mewed as she hung over his shoulder, observing what he was doing. He heard a soft grumble, knowing Mew was hungry as well. Her most notorious skill called gluttony had awakened once more, making her a begging devil. The only cure being good food.
"Yeah yeah. I just had too little time yesterday to make it. No need to remind me today."
Looking through the notes in his diary for a recipe he had put together himself, Ares started to mash some berries, following the steps on just memory alone. The note was just to make sure he didn't forget anything, which never happened but there was always a first for everything.
Lucario noticed what Ares was doing and came running to help. It had become a habit for Lucario as well to help with whatever Ares was making, as Lucario would always receive some snacks while helping. These were healthy and small snacks, yet they were still delicious. It was also a great way to bond with his pokemon.
Eevee noticed Lucario's actions, but didn't follow, as he was still helping Pidgey and Pichu train. It was now his responsibility, seeing that Lucario had run off to help Ares cook. Evee knew he would get something as well, even if he didn't come running. His task for now was to help Pidgey and Pichu and that was that. Ares had his helpers anyway, Mew and Lucario, and he would just be in the way if he helped too.
In a way Eevee was right, yet he was also not right. It was true that Mew and Lucario were with Ares to help him. The thing was, only Lucario was helping Ares, as Mew enjoyed watching Ares work. Mew had no intention to help with the food, as she was a disaster if she touched anything. She had no intention to ruin the delicious food she could easily get by just watching.
At some point, Pichu had come as well, as she was interested in what they were doing. Seeing nothing wrong with letting Pichu help, he let her make small balls from pieces of dough. These were made especially for Pichu, so there was no demerit in showing her how to do it. Maybe she would even start to enjoy it, making her grow a bit closer to him and his other pokemon.
Waiting patiently for the food, Mew didn't have to wait long as Ares had filled multiple plates with the delicous smelling pokemon food. He had made every recipe for the specific pokemon, all to their own likes.
This time he had decided to make pokepuffs, a basic recipe he had gotten from Daisy. He had tweaked it a bit, making sure it wouldn't be just a snack but also healthy enough to serve as lunch.
Mew happily flew around Ares as she received her own plate. Looking forward to the taste, Mew made herself comfortable on the soft sleeping bag. Once she was comfortable, she began to munch away at the food, yet carefull not to cover the sleeping bag with crumbs. Ares wouldn't like that, as would she. Her fur needed to be clean to get the best of sleep.
The other pokemon were delighted with it as well, as they would always feel energized with it. Having no clue about what kind of food this was whatsoever, Pidgey, Pichu and Eevee took a few bites and were immediately smitten by the taste. They wouldn't even want to eat other food anymore. This was just too delicious.
Pichu especially, since she had made the food with her own little hands, felt a sense of accomplishment. Staring in Ares with an excited glimmer, he knew she had found a new hobby, something she would love to do. One step closer in getting to know his pokemon.
"I'm glad you guys like it."
Are smiled as he saw his pokemon enjoying themselves, as he too began to eat. He had prepared a simple stew for himself, made from wild vegetables from the woods and some supplies Delia had packed in his backpack.
While all of them were eating, Ares scanned all of his recently captured pokémon, their information popping up on his rotom phone.
[Pichu]
Female
Abillity: Lightning rod
Pichu, the tiny mouse pokémon. The electric sacks on Pichu's cheeks are small. If it tries to store more electricity than they can hold, Pichu will shock itself.
[Eevee]
Male
Abillity: Anticipation
Eevee, the Evolution pokemon. Due to its unstable genetics, it can evolve in eigth different types currently discovered.
[Pidgey]
Male
Ability: Tangled Feet
Pidgey, the tiny bird pokemon. Pidgey usually don't like to battle, but it won't hesitate when provoked.
Satisfied, Ares wondered how he should put their abilities to use in battle, though that were thought for later, when they were more accustomed to each other.
The rest of the day after lunch was spent on training. Pidgey had a lot of useful moves, yet he wasn't able to use them as well as Ares hoped. Roost was only capable of being used when Pidgey was stationary, which was dificult to use in a battle. Pidgey had to raise his proficiency for it to last only a couple of seconds. Ares also wanted Pidgey to learn Steel Wing, as it would give it another move to use for opponents it had a type disadvantage against. Such as Ice-types.
Giving Pidgey instructions to collect energy in its wings, Ares hammered on the point he should not use flying-type energy, but another type of energy, Steel.
Pidgey nodded as it too wanted to learn this move. He had seen Pidgeotto and Pidgeot use it and it wanted to learn the move too. Having a faint idea of what Ares meant, Pidgey began to start his training.
Moving on, Ares wanted Eevee to learn Agillity and Swift. Giving a few instructions on how the moves worked, Eevee began to train as well. This is where his rotom phone became a boon, as he was able to show short clips on how certain moves were executed, even if the smaller steps weren't shown. Having an example of how to do it came a long way.
Pichu had finally joined the training as well, as Ares had decided not only to let her train in her energy use, but also her moves. The move she knew how to use were only a few, those being Tail Whip, Thundershock, Play Nice, Sweet Kiss, Nuzzle and a surprising one, Disarming voice.
Letting Pichu focus on her electric moves was now for the best. She was learning control, something Pichu were well known for not to be good at.
And Lucario, well Lucario was working on raising the proficiency in the moves he already knew, which were a lot.
If they had mastered their current moves adequately, he would see which TM's he would teach them. While he had a few on hand, thanks to his time spent with professor Oak, he still needed to buy or win more as his journey continued. It never hurt to expand his pokémon's move pool, though only of they mastered them.
(A/N: I'm posting the pokémon info as a auxiliary chapter. Look it up if you want to. It will be updated as the story goes, though it will probably update slowly.)
Having some free time left, Ares began to plan out where he should go and what he should do once he was in Pewter city. Grabbing his Rotom phone, Ares opened the Map app and noticed he had unknowingly passed by Viridian city. It was his intention to do this, but it was still surprising it had happened so fast.
Not that he was going to Viridian city, as Giovanni's gym was way too strong for him to take on now. Giovanni was the strongest Gym leader in the region, While he was absent often due to private matters, the gym was notorious for being difficult to beat so he would keep him for last.
Looking up the map of Pewter city and the rules of the league, Ares knew he had to register in the pokémon center first as soon as he arrived there. He had to if he wanted to challenge the gym and participate in the pokémon League. Besides that, he read something about tasks and missions you could complete for money, which was something ever trainer needed if he wanted to raise pokémon and Ares was the same. He wanted the best for his pokémon and for that he needed money. While he did get pocket money from professor Oak every fortnight, it would quickly run out with every pokémon he caught. Doing some side tasks wouldn't hurt in the slightest.
Having read through everything he was in need to do to participate in the pokémon league, Ares shut down his phone, noticing the sky was already darkening. Luckily his tent was already set up this time and there was still food for the pokémon for dinner.
As everyone of his pokémon finished dinner, they crept inside the tent and joined him in the sleeping bag, making a tight yet cozy fit.
With everyone secured inside, Ares zipped the tent close, the sound of rain slowly but surely sounding against the tent fabric.