Chatting
It had been almost three years since they started playing the I Wanna Be the Very Best.
The spirited Cynthia would visit almost all the time, but occasionally, Allen would go over to her place instead.
Cynthia always referred to herself as "Champion Cynthia," and now, the real champion herself was coming to visit him today. The joy in her voice was unmistakable.
Allen could only smile bitterly and let her do as she pleased. The game was finally over, and he sighed in relief. It had always been a game where he was on the defensive.
Grandma Dracelia smiled as she watched Allen and Cynthia, both covered in mud, playing in the garden.
Miltank, Buneary, and Chingling were there to watch over them, so she wasn't worried about their safety. Besides, they never wandered far from the house.
Buneary and Chingling were usually the most playful, while Bulla, the gentle Miltank, could always be found watching from afar—often napping.
"Dear Cynthia, it's getting quite dark now. You should head back soon," Grandma Dracelia called out.
"Yup, got it! See you tomorrow, Allen!" Cynthia shouted as she dashed outside, her little bell Chingling merrily behind her, still full of energy.
The moon shone brightly over Celestic Town, casting playful shadows across the cobblestone streets. After a shower, Allen wandered quietly, glancing around before sneaking toward one of the rooms in the house.
CREAK.
The sound of the door opening stirred someone inside. She turned quickly, her face lighting up with a warm knowing smile.
"Allen, you sneaked past Pappy and Nana again?"
"Aunt Drasna!" Allen whispered, making a "shh" gesture as he approached her. She was sitting peacefully, reading a book.
After checking to ensure his aunt was comfortable, Allen's gaze drifted to the bookshelf in the corner of the room—the real reason he had snuck in.
Drasna smiled knowingly and waved her hand. "Go on, don't mind your aunt. I'm okay."
Allen trotted over to the bookshelf, scanning the rows of colorful books before carefully selecting four. Balancing them in his small arms, he made his way back to his aunt's bed.
He placed the books down and tried to climb up, but his little feet barely reached the edge. The beds in Celestic Town were slightly higher than most for safety reasons.
Drasna chuckled softly. "Do you need a hand, Allen?"
"No, no," Allen replied decisively.
With a determined look, he grunted, "Hmmph!" as he lifted his left foot, giving it his all to boost himself up. His cheeks puffed out adorably from the effort.
Finally, with one last mighty heave, he managed to swing his leg over the edge and plopped himself onto the bed.
Once settled, he obediently sat beside his aunt and opened a book to read. Aunt Drasna had taken a leave of absence from her Elite Four duties to be there when he started kindergarten. She often spent her days reading, and Allen frequently joined her.
"Aunt, where is Uncle Haaland?"
"Your uncle is in Veilstone City. He'll be back soon."
"Oh," Allen replied, not pressing further.
Uncle Haaland was a chef in Galar, skilled enough to own a dessert shop there. Owning a Milcery only added to his reputation—such Pokémon were often associated with talented pastry chefs, given their connection to sweets and creativity.
"Ma-mii~!"
Speak of the devil.
As soon as her owner was mentioned, Milcery spun into the room, twirling playfully in front of Allen.
"Oh, Cherry! I thought you went with Uncle Haaland!" Allen exclaimed.
Milcery happily spun in circles, her creamy swirls trailing behind her, before playfully tapping Allen's lips with a dollop of cream.
Surprised, Allen giggled and licked it off, laughing at her antics.
After playing with Milcery for a while, the little cream-colored Pokémon's nose twitched as she sniffed the air. Her barely visible eyes lit up, and before Allen could blink, she zipped toward the kitchen.
"Haha, it seems Grandma is baking, and Cherry doesn't want to miss out," Drasna laughed.
Allen smiled at Milcery's excitement but chose to stay, focusing on the books he had brought.
There was one time when he was still small, wandering around, and accidentally stumbled into his aunt's room.
At that age, he could only crawl, flapping his little hands and feet. Out of nowhere, two big hands had scooped him up—his aunt had "kidnapped" him that day.
That was when he discovered that his aunt's room was a treasure trove of knowledge. The shelves were lined with books, most of them about dragons—especially Dialga and Palkia.
From then on, Drasna eagerly shared stories about her younger days, recounting the heroic adventures and sacrifices she made when her grandparents "indoctrinated" her with tales of the almighty Sinnoh.
That was why she had chosen the path of the Dragon.
Allen, listening intently, could only nod, beginning to understand the connection. It was just like what they had always said about Elite Four Drasna.
Afterward, his aunt warned him that one day, his turn would come—to learn about Dialga, Palkia, just like her. The thought made Allen pale.
'So boring,' he muttered to himself.
From that moment, he promised to escape whenever the "indoctrination" was about to begin!
Back in the present, Allen flipped through a book before looking up at his aunt.
"Auntie, how do you talk to your Pokémon? Are they really as smart as the stories say? Are you one of the Viridian children?"
That was something that puzzled him.
From what he had seen, there was never any issue with communication between his aunt and her Pokémon, Altaria and Noivern. He had even witnessed her speaking to them, and they nodded as if they fully understood.
It was flawless. Yet, in all the Pokémon stories, there was no mention of Drasna being one of the Viridian children.
He had observed other trainers, too. His aunt effortlessly rode Altaria, and his uncle whispered to his Goomy during his choosing ceremony, ensuring it didn't harm him. Clearly, Pokémon had no problem understanding humans. But he had also seen Pokémon ignore their trainers or act differently from their instructions.
There had to be a "secret sauce" he was missing.
In the animated shows and games, Pokémon usually communicated through body language or distinct cries. There are also some Pokémon that can definitely talk, like Team Rocket's Meowth,
He had already seen Pokémon communicate with each other with no issues, even though they only used cries and gestures. But when it came to humans, especially someone like him, it seemed more complicated.
Drasna was taken aback. "How did you know that?" she asked curiously.
Now it was Allen's turn to look confused. "Isn't that from the television? They mention it all the time."
Only then did she understand—it must be that guy. Drasna rubbed her temples. 'Lance, that bastard.'
After thinking for a moment, she found the best way to answer. Settling into a comfortable position, she smiled at Allen's question before responding.
"That's a good question," Drasna said, her voice calm. "Everything has been considered, but in the end, it all comes down to the basics: communication and interaction. Simply being together through thick and thin is enough—that's what bonding is. We may not understand Pokémon the way we understand people, but we can still grasp their intentions."
She paused, choosing her words carefully. "For most beginners, it takes time to catch up. Not everyone can instantly understand what Pokémon mean. But just as much as they need guidance, they also need companionship. It's all about the bond we build with them."
"This is why your aunt always emphasizes starting with your first Pokémon. The connection you form strengthens your confidence and understanding. Later, when you have a second or third, things will come more naturally."
Allen thought for a moment. "Is that… a common way of thinking?"
"At higher levels? Absolutely. Trainers who don't spend enough time with their Pokémon often find themselves stuck at the rookie ranks. To truly succeed, you need to invest in your bond with them."
"Of course, there are some exceptions. Some people are simply more gifted—able to understand Pokémon faster than others, just like how some can run quicker or think faster. For example, you can count from one to a hundred more quickly than Cynthia. Isn't that a special talent?"
"Oh." Allen nodded, lost in thought.
It was just like what the internet said—some people could use their unique abilities to communicate with Pokémon through telepathy, instantly heal them, read their minds, or even move inanimate objects and temporarily raise a Pokémon's level. Just like Ash, who possessed an extraordinary amount of empathetic energy, allowing him to connect with Pokémon more easily.
Drasna assumed he was feeling sad because of it, so she consoled him. "But remember this, little Allen. Mismatched trainers and Pokémon can never reach the heights that those in sync do. No matter how gifted you are, to truly succeed, you need to spend quality time with your Pokémon."
"Like your aunt said earlier, Pokémon need our companionship just as much as they need our guidance. It might take a while to pick up on their meaning, but the stronger the bond, the easier it becomes."
Allen nodded again, completely absorbed in her words.
Seeing him like this, the expectant Drasna couldn't help but hug him tightly, touched by his cuteness.
"Aww, Allen," she cooed.
His chubby cheeks puffed out from her embrace, but he didn't mind it.