Chapter Text
“Cuddles, look! Calem’s inaugural match is starting with a tall giant!!”
Cuddles the Swirlix floated drowsily towards the couch to meet up with her excited, young human Trainer, who had recently adopted her from Professor Sycamore. She would rather sleep and dream of being in a wonderland full of cotton candies for her to devour.
“I know… I know… Let’s hope it’s over fast enough. I want to go back to eating my imaginary feast in my dreams…”
Human teenagers were weird. What was with their obsession with watching fellow humans competing in competitions ON A FLAT SURFACE, rather than simply enjoying the thrill of a battle in-person?
Until the fluffy Fairy-type Pokemon’s snore-bubble popped, momentarily seeing the young male in medium black hair commanding his Chesnaught against that gargantuan old man.
“Chesnaught, Hammer Arm!”
The Chesnaught’s valiant slam towards the giant’s Pokemon prompted the Swirlix’s red eyes into a widened set of lenses, enthralled by the determination radiating from the same Spiny Armor Pokemon across the flat surface.
Was that what being a Pokemon Champion was about for Jennie?
Jennie had always yearned to be appreciated, and treated like a normal person. People from her school were a bunch of meanies, singling Jennie out from their small human groups. They always said she had been a weirdo with hyperfixations about a world where Pokemon wouldn’t suffer and could coexist with humans — according to what Jennie had been paraphrasing, that didn’t even make sense, when Pokemon had still been stereotyped through typing alone.
Unlike this Calem-named human, whom Jennie idolized for saving Kalos from certain doom, and was now commanding his teammates without breaking a sweat.
To be fair, the Swirlix didn’t pay further attention to the battle. All she knew was that Calem won fair and square, adjusting his hat with glinting pride under the orange hues.
That resounding WHAM from Chesnaught had secured his victory, no doubt. And along with Calem, he got the sad giant’s peculiar-looking but cute Floette back too! Holy shit, was bringing forth a heartfelt reunion part of a Champion’s duty too?
Now that prospect had officially piqued the Swirlix’s interest, her tail wagging in delight while she continued sitting on Jennie’s lap.
“Jen, time for dinner!” Jennie’s mother’s voice could be heard. “Tell your dog to stay away from the dining table, and have it eat in its bowl on the floor.”
Cuddles grunted — she had been Jennie’s first partner Pokemon, for Arceus’ sake! Not some stray picked up from the streets! Why wouldn’t or hadn’t Jennie’s parents acknowledge that?
Until the gleaming human girl held up the pouty Swirlix in two hoisted arms and said:
“Cuddles, do you want to aim for the summit with me?”
In a flash, the pout disappeared faster than light’s travelling speed, her tail wagging pendulously once more.
“Yes!!”
If it meant gaining acknowledgement, indulging in lots of opulent desserts, and most importantly making Jennie — the one who defended her from that jerk-ass Azumarill that tormented her — proud…
…Then she would do anything to make Jennie be like Calem!
She just knew it!