being in the Pokemon world

The night was quiet again, but this time it felt different.

Alex sat by the mouth of the cave, the forest rustling in the distance, lit by moonlight and fireflies. The air was still, but inside his chest, everything was moving too fast—his pulse, his breath, his thoughts. The memory of Mightyena's eyes as it died wouldn't stop replaying behind his eyelids. It wasn't the violence that disturbed him—it was how normal it felt afterward.

He should've been screaming. Crying. Falling apart.Instead, he was... calm.And that scared him more than anything.

"I'm not a monster," he muttered, trying to convince himself.

But silence answered.

Then, soft footsteps.

Riolu approached again, carrying a small bunch of berries in his paws. He offered them with a concerned look, his aura flickering softly like candlelight.

Alex took the berries with trembling hands. "Thanks," he whispered.

They weren't just food. They were proof that someone cared.

He ate slowly, not out of hunger but to keep his hands busy. Riolu sat beside him, not pressing, not speaking. Just watching the sky, occasionally glancing at Alex like a quiet guardian.

Alex sighed. "I used to be nothing, you know. Back in my old world. Couldn't talk to anyone without freezing up. Couldn't stand crowds. Couldn't even order food without panic attacks."

Riolu blinked, tilting his head.

"I died in that world. Probably alone. And now I'm here... in this world where I have to kill to survive. Where the air smells like blood, and everything wants to eat you."

His voice cracked. "And yet you… you're the only one that makes it bearable."

Riolu looked up at him, then reached out with his paw.Alex hesitated, then took it.

Warm. Alive. Real.

Morning came with mist blanketing the forest. The light filtered through the trees like ghostly fingers, cold and silver.

Alex and Riolu stood in their clearing again, the dirt beneath their feet packed from repeated steps. Scorch marks from Fire Punches. Craters from Force Palms. Splintered logs.

"Alright," Alex said, cracking his neck, "no more holding back. If we want to survive, we need to grow stronger. No one's going to protect us. It's us or nothing."

Riolu nodded, steeling his expression.

"Let's push past what we did yesterday."

Alex had crafted a makeshift training circuit. Logs suspended on ropes, moving targets made of vines and bark. A few traps even, like falling branches, to simulate dodging.

"Start with Force Palm on moving targets. If you can hit a swinging log, you can hit a charging Pokémon."

Riolu launched forward. His strikes were fast, controlled—but not perfect.

"you need to get better riolu come on I believe in you"

Again and again Riolu struck the targets, even as his paws began to bleed from overuse.

Alex's voice was stern but not cold. "continue riolu we need to get stronger"

When Riolu stumbled, Alex caught him.

"Alright. Break time," he said, handing him a small berry. "do not overdo it"

Riolu sat down, panting hard, but his eyes burned with determination.

"Let me see something," Alex said, standing up. He grabbed a branch and held it out like a spear. "Attack me."

"Ri?!"

"I'm serious. Come at me. Use everything except Aura Sphere."

Riolu hesitated, unsure. But Alex didn't flinch.

"You need to learn to fight someone smarter than a tree."

Riolu nodded, then darted forward with Quick Attack. Alex barely managed to sidestep, using the stick to block a follow-up Metal Claw.

"Good—but telegraphed," Alex said, parrying. "Don't think like a move list. Think like a fighter."

Riolu adjusted mid-air, flipping and using Force Palm—Alex stumbled back, air knocked from his lungs.

"Damn—okay, that one hurt."

Riolu paused, worried.

"No, that's good," Alex wheezed. "That means you're learning."

They trained until midday.

When they finally stopped, both collapsed onto the grass. Alex's arms ached. Riolu's paws were raw, and a bruise was forming on Alex's side.

But they laughed.

It was the first time Alex had laughed in days. Maybe longer.

"You're going to be a monster on the battlefield," he said, ruffling Riolu's head. "And I'm going to be the one that trained you."

Riolu grinned.

As the sun set, they returned to the cave. Alex built a fire and shared the last of their berries.

Tomorrow, he would hunt again. They needed food. Shelter. More supplies.

But tonight, he let himself rest.

And when the nightmares returned—the flames, the blood, the eyes—Riolu was there, paw on his chest, aura pulsing gently, holding the darkness at bay.

Together, they weren't just surviving anymore.

They were becoming strong enough to live.