Pokemon: Starting With a Psyduck

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Although he knows this is an act, Psyduck has been with Jack since he was born. To Psyduck, Jack is the most important person in the world. Seeing the middle-aged man holding Jack hostage with a hatchet, Psyduck still feels immense hate—followed by a surge of rage.

Uncontrollable emotions caused the energy around Psyduck to become chaotic, making the small stones on the ground leap erratically due to the invisible confusion.

"Psyduck!" Jack shouted. Psyduck, lost in its emotions, paused for a moment and looked up. Jack gave it a reassuring glance.

"Ahem! Uncle, relax a bit. I can't grab the Poké Ball like this," Jack said, coughing slightly as he patted the hand of the middle-aged man gripping his neck.

"Hmph, no tricks! After taking Psyduck, hand over all your Poké Balls," the man growled.

"Okay, okay, Uncle. Please don't hurt me," Jack replied quickly.

The middle-aged man loosened his grip on Jack's arm. Jack sighed in relief and retrieved a Poké Ball from his belt. "Come back, Psyduck."

A red beam from the Poké Ball enveloped Psyduck, returning it safely. Jack then handed the middle-aged man the remaining two Poké Balls from his belt along with Psyduck's.

The man scowled at the three Poké Balls. "Why are there only three? Don't try anything funny, kid!"

"No tricks, Uncle, I swear," Jack replied hurriedly. "I started my journey with six Poké Balls, but since entering Forest of Clouds and Mist, I haven't caught any new Pokémon. The other three Poké Balls got damaged."

The man eyed Jack suspiciously. "Really?"

"Of course! Would I lie now? If you don't believe me, my space backpack is in the tent. I can get it for you to check," Jack offered.

But the man refused. "No, you stay put. Who knows what kind of ambush you might have set up? I'll feel safer if you stay right here."

"Then what do you want me to do?" Jack asked helplessly.

After a moment of thought, the man turned to his Mightyena. "Mightyena, go get the brat's space backpack from the tent. Be careful."

"Awoo!" Mightyena barked before carefully unzipping Jack's tent and entering.

As Mightyena disappeared into the tent, Jack knew this was his chance.

"Ariados, now!"

"What?!" The man gasped, but it was too late. A string shot from an unseen direction, snatching the hatchet from his hand and flinging it far away.

"Mightyena!" the man shouted in panic, spinning in place to find the source of the attack. But it was futile.

Suddenly, he felt a tightness around his neck as if being strangled. Slowly, he looked up, his pupils shrinking in fear. Despite the chill of the cave, cold sweat streamed down his face.

Above them, a one-meter-long spider-like Pokémon with a red and black body glared down at him with terrifying eyes.

"Ah, Ariados!"

This was the last complete sentence the middle-aged man uttered in this world. The spider thread around his neck suddenly tightened, pulling him upward until he hung suspended in the air.

"Wooooooo...!" The man struggled desperately, flailing his limbs and clawing at the thread constricting his neck. His eyes rolled back as he gasped for breath.

Perhaps out of mercy, Ariados severed the thread, sending the man plummeting to the ground with a heavy thud. Ariados leapt gracefully from its perch above the cave, landing beside Jack.

"Forgive..." 

The man's plea was cut short as Ariados' sharp forelimb plunged into his body. 

"Woo... woo..." His dying groans echoed briefly before fading. Jack approached the fallen man, crouched beside him, and reclaimed the stolen Poké Balls. Leaning in close to the man's ear, he murmured, "By the way, Uncle, my Psyduck is actually a five-star Pokémon."

The man's pupils dilated in shock before his lifeless eyes froze wide open. He stopped breathing.

Hearing the commotion, Mightyena rushed out of the tent. The sight of its fallen Trainer made it freeze, growling deeply. Mightyena crouched, its front legs pressed against the ground, tail raised high, and teeth bared at Jack and his Pokémon. However, it hesitated to attack.

Standing protectively before Jack, Ariados stared coldly at Mightyena, exuding an intimidating presence. Mightyena's instincts told it that Ariados was not an opponent to be taken lightly.

Jack glanced at Mightyena but dismissed it for the moment. Although Mightyena's level was higher than Ariados', its lack of strong potential and disadvantage against Ariados' Bug-type moves put it at a clear disadvantage. Moreover, its Dark typing left it vulnerable to Ariados' attacks.

After all, not every Trainer can achieve mastery over type disadvantages.

"Come out, Psyduck!" Jack called, releasing Psyduck from its Poké Ball. Upon seeing Jack unharmed, Psyduck chirped joyfully and waddled over to Ariados. Together, they faced Mightyena, who remained in a defensive stance.

Mightyena glanced at Psyduck, then at Ariados, and finally at its fallen Trainer. Hesitating briefly, it backed away, growling lowly. Then, with a swift turn, it fled into the mist, disappearing from sight.

Jack showed no reaction to Mightyena's retreat and made no move to pursue it. He simply watched it go, unsurprised.

While there are countless stories of deep bonds between Trainers and their Pokémon, there are also Trainers whose relationships with their Pokémon are indifferent—more akin to a transactional partnership. Pokémon will follow commands but rarely risk themselves for a Trainer they lack a true connection with.

Pokémon are intelligent beings with their own thoughts and instincts for survival. 

Take Teddiursa, for instance—newly captured by Jack. Having no bond with Jack yet, it was tame only due to the Poké Ball's influence. If released, it wouldn't follow commands, and while it wouldn't outright attack, the likelihood of it running away was high.