How to Train Your Pokémon

A/N: Even though this story isn't as popular as some of my other ones, I still think it has potential. Here we go, with Chapter 5! Roll it!

Chapter 5

A Memory and An Announcement

When Mari finally came back to consciousness, she saw that the sky above her had become lavender with the white clouds tinted a pale orange and pink. It was sunset. She slowly sat up and looked around, trying to keep her mind from getting disoriented.

The Electric type was gone. No sign of it anywhere. Her shoulder bag was on the ground nearby where she had dropped it. She picked it up and slung it over her arm. Mari then began to walk over to a hilltop close to her house, but out of sight.

She sat down on the ground and opened her bag. Besides her Poké Ball and her switchblade, there were a few rolls of bread that she had swiped from her kitchen before she headed out on her search. Upon realizing just how hungry she was, Mari quickly devoured them all, watching the sun beginning to set on the hills in the distance.

Once she had finished eating her late lunch, she continued staring out at the horizon. Why did she do that? Why did she let that Electric type go? Mari remembered the fear and defeat in its big black eyes. It didn't even put up a fight. All she had to do was toss the Ball at it, and everything would change. But instead, her soft heart was bleeding with guilt and she released it.

And the Electric type. It could've zapped her to a smoky crisp right there once it was free. However, it also spared her with a pretty fair warning. The most elusive Pokémon in her time spared her? A Trainer who was an easy target right there, being unarmed, defenseless, and paralyzed with fear.

Mari rubbed her bare arms when the cool breeze hit them. Basking in the warm orange-gold light, sunsets much like these provided familiar warmth from the deepest parts of her memory.

Flashback

The sun was at its orange hue in the early twilight sky. Mari saw her tiny and chubby arms reaching up to it, as if to grab one of the pink wispy clouds floating above her. She heard herself giggling as a partially gloved hand slightly reached up as well, and her tiny hands latched onto two of the bigger one's fingers. Then someone else had started laughing gently as well; a male voice, as he tried to pull his fingers away.

"Mari, let go." The man's voice chuckled lightly as he finally pried his fingers away from her grip. She continued giggling as she tried to reach up further to grab them again. The man began softly tickling her stomach, making her squeal with glee.

Finally, the laughter died down, and the man revealed his face. It was blurry in her memory, but Mari could make out wild raven hair and shining brown eyes that matched her own. "Remember this, Mari." The man said. "I'll always be with you, even if I'm not here."

"Ash!" A voice called out, but it didn't sound like her mother. It was deep like a man, but still sounding pretty young with a little bit of a squeak. It was pretty close, but she couldn't see who was speaking.

"Yeah, buddy?" The man now revealed as her father, Ash Ketchum, asked the voice.

"It's time for them to meet her." The voice said.

"Okay." Ash said, looking to his right. He looked back at Mari in his arms. "They're just gonna love you, Mari." He gently caressed her face with two fingertips. "My lucky charm."

Mari giggled and tried to reach up to her dad's face. "Da-da!" She cooed. She then saw a fuzzy yellow blur on his shoulder. She then tried to reach up to it. As the memory faded, she remembered the last thing she had said, and it was to the figure. "Pika!"

End of Flashback

Mari wiped away a stray tear that had slid down her cheek with a sad smile. That was one of the few memories that she had of her father. He had called her his lucky charm because her mom had once said that when she was born, he then had something else to fight for and to protect. Seeing her always gave him a smile.

But what was the yellow figure on his shoulder? And why did she say, "Pika"? Was that a word or a name?

The sun was now almost completely down. Mari stood up from her spot and began quickly walking towards her house.

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When Mari came through the back doors of the house and into the kitchen, she saw her family having dinner in the dining room. Dawn sat at the head of the table, the twins were on opposite sides, and there was a plate of food at her spot in between her mother and Luke.

Luke and Evan saw her come in, and they gestured her to sneak past their mother. She nodded, and cautiously began to tiptoe through the kitchen.

"Mari." Dawn called out her daughter.

"Mom." Mari halted in her steps. She then tossed her shoulder bag into the living room, and picked up her plate. "I need to talk to you about something, Mom."

"I need to speak with you, too, honey." Dawn said. She then turned to the twins. "Boys, you're excused, and start getting ready for bed."

Luke and Evan wanted to stick around and listen to this conversation, since this hardly ever happens, but decided against it. They picked up their empty dishes, placed them in the sink, then went upstairs.

Mari placed her plate of food in the microwave to reheat it. She then went over to the sink with a scowl on her face when she began cleaning up her brothers' dirty dishes. After a deep breath, she spoke to her mother just as Dawn began speaking.

"I decided that I can't capture Pokémon./ It's time you learned how to capture Pokémon. What?"

"You go first." Dawn said as she stood up from her seat.

"No, you go." Mari said as she placed the now clean plates in the dishwasher.

"Okay." Dawn took a deep breath. "You get your wish. You start training tomorrow with your brothers."

Mari was about to open the microwave to get out her reheated food when she froze when her mother's words hit her. "Oh, boy." She whispered. Just her luck when she had changed her mind about capturing Pokémon, she was going into training to learn to do just that.

She got her reheated food out of the microwave and placed it on the table. "A-Are you sure?" She asked hesitantly. However, Dawn took her hesistance for disbelief.

"Yes, sweetie." She placed her hand on her daughter's trembling shoulder. "You have the ability and potential to become a great Trainer. You know what to do, right?" Mari could only nod feebly as she slumped into her chair. "Good." Dawn said. "Also, I'll be leaving early tomorrow for Volcano Gate."

That made Mari snap out of her dazed state. "Not again, Mom." She said. "It scares me and the twins when you go there."

"I know." Dawn said. "But, I kept my promises to the three of you that I would be safe."

"Yeah." Mari then got up from her chair and enveloped Dawn in a hug. "Just be careful, okay?"

Dawn returned the hug tightly. "Always." She then let go of her daughter. "Train hard. And watch over your brothers."

"I will." Mari promised.

Dawn then left to head upstairs and talk to the twins. Mari sat back down to quietly eat her food alone. Tomorrow is going to be a long day.

A/N: I hoped you guys enjoyed this chapter. I wanted Dawn and Mari's relationship to be more loving, not as frigid. Dawn just wants to keep Mari safe, but maybe is doing in not the best way.

I'll see y'all in Chapter 6, where the real excitement finally starts to kick in. Please leave a comment about what you think. They are highly appreciated.

Got to fly! ;)