"How are you feeling?"

  Asked the doctor as he typed down on his Pokégear.

  "I'm fine doc. Robert, I can exert more strength than I did when we first started," answered Jaw as he walked through a parallel bar with a platform, a common item for rehab.

  It has been 4 days since Jaw started this exercise, and he has improved since then. Now not needing a wheelchair and only a pair of crutches.

  "I see, that's good," responded the doctor, now known as Robert, cheerfully, glad his patient was improving. "At your current pace, you'll be allowed to leave in about a week or maybe less."

  Jaw nodded and continued with the exercise.

  He's come to terms with his situation, more or less. Sure, suddenly coming to the world of Pokémon is sudden and frightening, not knowing how or even if you can go back to your previous one. Leaving behind all that you know, all the bonds, everything.

  But Jaw did not have that many to leave behind so he wasn't affected that much. In fact, he was excited! This was Pokémon! Anyone who has liked the franchise has most certainly dreamed of being in their own journey at least once.

  Well, not to say that he was not the least bit sad about leaving his world behind. He was sad, but just a little.

  Jaw was an orphan. Born out of unplanned pregnancy, the couple decided they did not want the child, but did not also have it in them to do an abortion, so they did the next 'best' thing and left him in an orphanage.

  Over the years, luckily or unluckily, he was not adopted and he turned 15. Three more years until he was kicked out.

  He planned to celebrate with his friends, kids his age who also have not been adopted, when all of a sudden, he was in the middle of a beach.

  They're probably worried about me missing and all, I hope.

  And I do miss them a little, but... well, I'll manage.

  He was friends with them, though the friendship wasn't particularly strong. Not strong like a best buddy kind of strong.

  As he continued to contemplate his thoughts while exercising, the door to the hospital's gym—where he was currently at—opened and a Pokémon walked in.

  A small yellow-colored Pokémon with jaws for hair came inside and greeted Jaws.

  "Mawile!~," it said as it waved its arms in greeting.

  "Hello too, Mawile," Jaw's greeted back with a smile.

  This Pokémon has been his exercise companion for the past 4 days, and he thinks they might have become friends, Jaw hopes.

  Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators!

  Mawile too had a sad backstory, she—yes, a female Mawile—was abandoned by her trainer because of a failed gym challenge, which is quite common—though not a good thing—according to Dr. Robert and was left in Petalburg Woods, close to where Ranger Myla and her team found me.

  Left alone and depressed, Mawile was easy prey for the local Pokémons and only managed to survive due to a passing trainer who helped and got her into the local Pokémon Center.

  Sure, we all know that Pokémon kill other Pokémon for food—It's common sense here, but when I found out, I was culture shocked—circle of life and all that, but what kind of trainer would you be if you just ignored that a Pokémon was about to be killed in front of you.

  Mawile stayed in the Pokémon Center and would often go to the nearby hospital, where Jaw is currently staying, and help.

  They got acquainted and became friends fast, either due to Jaw's excitable and eager personality—mostly due to him having a bias towards the Pokémon species Mawile—or something else.

  I'm glad we became friends, Mawile has been a good company to me, not making my hospital life boring. I tried using the public PCs in the building, but I can only have a limited time using them, they are public after all... others need to use the device too.

  And standing for too long is also a little bit too much for me at the moment, the doctor said I needed more rest.

  "Will you be staying with me today too?" asked Jaw.

  "Maw!~," said Mawile excitedly while nodding.

  Jaw beamed at that, more motivated now to finish his exercise session to play with Mawile.

  The resident doctor and nurses could not help but chuckle, seeing the cute interaction between the boy and the Pokémon.

  A couple more minutes and Dr. Robert finally let go of Jaw, the exercise over, and the duo rushed back to Jaw's room, which prompted another rouse of chuckles from the onlookers.

  ***

  "And so, the prince kissed Snow White, and she woke up!" said Jaw with emotion.

  "Mawile!~," shouted Mawile in delight as she stood up, glad the princess was cured of her curse.

  "The end," Jaw said with a clap, signifying the end of the story. Mawile applauded, happy about the ending, and wanted to hear another one.

  "No more for today, so let's watch TV!" said Jaw with a grin, earning him a stare from Mawile. "What? Watching TV is resting."

  Mawile just rolled her eyes but still came up to the bed, snuggling close to Jaw to watch TV.

  The hospital was well-equipped, even for entertainment stuff, such as the TVs in every patient's room.

  Jaw picked up the remote just beside his bed, on a table, and turned it on. The first channel they saw was an informational one, containing tips and tricks to make one's journey much easier.

  This is how Jaw obtained or confirmed some prior knowledge he's had concerning the Pokéverse.

  From tips like 'Bring A lot of Potions and Antidotes' to miscellaneous information such as 'Use A Poké Flute to wake up A Snorlax!'

  It’s also the reason why he’s made up his goal to be a Pokémon Trainer, because what else are you supposed to do in a Pokémon world. Because what else are you supposed to do in a Pokémon world, become a Professor? Jaw doesn’t think he’s that smart or patient enough to commit himself to a life of study.

  Jaw also found out that there isn't a Mega-Evolution yet, but Dynamax and Z-moves are common knowledge, at least to trainers.

  Although Jaw did find a video about Mega-Evolution by searching passively related searches like, 4th evolution? or Can A Pokémon only evolve 3 times?, which was a video of Diantha Mega-Evolving her Gardevoir, but it was classified as some kind of form-change, a phenomenon unique to her Gardevoir.

  So they're concealing it as that, guess I should do the same. And it doesn't really concern me, as I don't have a mega-stone nor can I mega-evolve even if I had one, heck, I don't even have a Pokémon yet.

  With that last thought, Jaw looked to his side at Mawile.

  "Say, Mawile," she looked up at him as he said that, tilting her head, waiting for him to say the rest.

  "We have a lot of fun together, right?"

  She nodded, smiling.

  "And we're friends too, right?"

  She nodded again, still smiling.

  "...Then, would you consider being my first Pokémon?"

  She did not nod this time, only stared, then looked down thinking about it.

  "In 4 days I'm about to be released and I plan to become a trainer, not a casual one, someone that is actually aiming for the top. And I want you to be there with me on that journey," Jaw said looking at Mawile. "Of course, if you don't want to, I understand, especially with your previous experience. Your decision will not affect our friendship, none at all, I just want you to think about it."

  She nodded, agreeing that she would indeed think about it. They continued watching the TV in awkward silence.