Chapter 36:

Cain once again switched off the weight training device for Murkrow, so as not to hinder him in his upcoming battle.

Slowpoke may have been strong, but his true forte lay in his Psychic moves. Would these be effective against the Dark-type Murkrow?

Still, Slowpoke was not one to be underestimated. As the battle raged on, he grew more determined, using Water Gun to great effect.

As the two clashed once more, Murkrow struggled to catch his breath while Slowpoke lay defeated on the ground. Though exhausted, his bright eyes still gleamed with excitement and satisfaction.

Cain, ever the attentive trainer, kept a watchful eye on Slowpoke, studying him as the battle progressed. He couldn't help but notice the lone Slowpoke's unique personality, and think that it was not just his physical appearance that set him apart from other Slowpokes.

"Murkrow, use Dark Pulse again," Cain commanded. "Let's give our future companion a chance to rest." Cain, having observed Slowpoke's limits, knew that one final Dark Pulse, dealing twice its normal damage, would be enough to defeat him. Though tired, Murkrow could still manage a few more moves. The more proficient he became, the faster Dark Pulse formed as he sent his final attack at Slowpoke.

Despite Slowpoke's defeat, the battle had only served to fuel his obsession. Even in his last moments of consciousness, he longed for the fight to continue.

With a swift motion, Cain threw a Great Ball at Slowpoke as he lost consciousness, watching as it shook on the ground, the red light at its center flashing wildly, a sign of the turmoil within.

"Follow me, Slowpoke, and there will be endless battles to be fought," Cain said, as he watched the Great Ball finally come to a rest. He reached out and grabbed the ball, releasing Slowpoke in front of Murkrow's eager eyes. A bright light flickered and a pale pink Pokemon emerged as the ball opened. Slowpoke was conscious, but his injuries still prevented him from moving.

Cain sat down on the wet ground, gently lifting Slowpoke onto his lap. He looked into the Pokemon's hesitant and frightened eyes and spoke softly, "Don't be afraid, Slowpoke. From now on, we are companions. This is Murkrow. Though you fought him before, you must get along in the future."

"Caw! Caw!" Murkrow cawed in agreement, not wanting to upset his new companion.

"Ya dong~," Slowpoke weakly yowled, showing that he held no ill will towards Murkrow. In fact, he found the battle to be exciting and was pleased with his new companion.

Murkrow was visibly relieved by Slowpoke's response and couldn't help but circle around the injured Pokemon, eager to get to know his powerful and battle-hardened companion.

Cain smiled as he watched the two communicate. He reached for a healing spray from his belt and generously applied it to Slowpoke's wounds. Even the stubborn Dark energy scars began to fade.

"Ya dong~," Slowpoke cried out in joy, looking at Cain with a shy expression. The obsession and madness he had displayed in battle were nowhere to be seen.

Cain laughed and pulled out a yellowish square Pokeblock, the same Sitrus Berry Pokeblock that Murkrow had once used to restore his talent. Slowpoke's round eyes widened in excitement as he swallowed the Pokeblock in one gulp, showing an intoxicated expression.

Slowpoke held that expression for over a dozen seconds, feeling something stir within him. He had been trying to imitate the normal Slowpokes since leaving his community and had always felt that his body was weak. He could only use 80% of his total strength, but after eating the Pokeblock, he felt as though he could use 90%. Though he was not yet back to his peak, he was still amazed.

"Slowpoke, it seems you have taken a liking to these Pokeblocks," Cain said. "But I must tell you one thing. Stop trying to imitate other Slowpokes. You are who you are, be true to yourself." Cain suspected that part of the reason Slowpoke's talent had begun to decrease was because he had started to abandon his true self in an effort to imitate others.

"Ya dong, ya dong," Slowpoke yowled, understanding the kindness in Cain's words. There was no contempt or disgust, indicating that Cain did not mind that he was different from other Slowpokes.

Slowpoke finally let down his guard and showed his true self. Although he still had the appearance of a Slowpoke, his eyes became sharper. They were no longer dull, and as the saying goes, "The eyes are the windows to the soul." Slowpoke's eyes were the best reflection of his inner thoughts, and his desire to fight was no longer suppressed.

Cain smiled. The only way for Slowpoke to become his true self was to stop hiding. So what if he was different from other Slowpokes? Time would prove who was right and who was wrong.

Slowpoke's talent, once 'Decreasing,' now changed to a state of 'Recovery' with the use of the Sitrus Berry Pokeblock and his discovery of his true self. He would need to continue consuming Sitrus Berry Pokeblocks for some time and his injuries would also need time to heal, as even with the help of the healing spray, he wouldn't be able to fully recover in a short period of time.

As for Slowpoke's future growth, pokeblocks would have to be specially crafted for him. Cain had already gleaned some ideas from the system's database on the combination of water and psychic-type Pokeblocks, though such recipes were relatively uncommon.

"Can you walk on your own, Slowpoke? Let's find a new place to make camp," Cain said, looking around at the humid surroundings. It was not a suitable place to stay for long.

The nearly 40 kg Slowpoke, who stood at a meter tall, was not someone Cain could easily carry.

"Ya dong~" Slowpoke nodded, but instead of moving, a faint blue light emanated from his eyes and Cain felt the weight on his body begin to decrease until Slowpoke was seen floating about ten centimeters off the ground.

With Slowpoke floating beside him and Murkrow flying overhead, Cain led the way out of the valley and found a relatively dry and flat area. After a longer than usual search for dry wood, a campfire was built just in time for noon, and Cain began to prepare lunch.

Slowpoke was injured, so Cain asked Murkrow to catch some fish to help him recover. After placing the fish next to the flame, Cain pulled out his pokeblock-making tools, which he hadn't used in a while. All the berries needed to make Sitrus Berry Pokeblocks were already on hand, so under the watchful eyes of Murkrow and Slowpoke, Cain made all the Pokeblocks Slowpoke would need in one sitting.

Now all that remained was to wait for them to solidify. Luckily, there were some Sitrus Berry Pokeblocks left over from the previous batch, so Slowpoke could start eating them right away to restore his talent.