In a dream, within the Pokémon League's breeding and servation area, an Oshawott was born among its kind.

  This Oshawott was different from the others.

  While other Oshawott pyed and basked in the sun, it quietly picked up its scalchop and practiced sword teiques. Over time, it mastered the use of its Razor Shell with increasing skill.

  As time passed, none of the other Oshawott in the group could rival it, and it eventually evolved into a Dewott.

  However, the good times didn’t st. One day, all the Oshawott of its geioaken by League officials to various Unova research bs as a starter Pokémon for rookie trainers.

  At the b, it met Tepig and Snivy who were also starters.

  Tepig was strong, ho, and reliable. Snivy roud, stubborn, and indepe. Within days, the diligent and reserved Dewott had challes two panions to battles, Razor Shell ready.

  Tepig was det but cked skill. Snivy roud but had surprising strength and evetract. Many times, Dewott found itself uedly floored by Snivy’s charm during their matches.

  These days didn’t st long. As time passed, the three Pokémon began to look forward to meeting their future trainers.

  Uepig, who was indifferent about which trainer would choose it, Snivy made its stance clear:

  Snivy: “From the teag of my elders and the bloodline I carry, I will never let a trainer e. I will be the oo y trainer!”

  Dewott: “What if you’re picked by someone you dislike or an unworthy trainer?”Snivy: “I’ll abandon them immediately!”

  Though Dewott was strohan Snivy, in that moment, it saw a radian Snivy—a light brighter than the sun, moon, or stars.

  Finally, the rookie trainers arrived.

  Tepig was chosen by a cold dark-haired boy. Snivy icked by a dainty girl. As for Dewott, it was taken by a frail-looking boy named Winter.

  This choice didn’t please Dewott.

  It wao be chosen by Tepig’s trainer, not a seemingly indecisive boy like Winter.

  But the trainer wasn’t ied i, so it was left with no choice but to accept being chosen by Winter.

  Relutly, Dewott decided it would take charge and train Wio bee a strong and resolute trainer.

  Uher Pokémo traiirelessly to grow stronger, whether in its Poké Ball or outside.

  As time went on, it helped Winter capture other Pokémon and fought many battles.

  Surprisingly, despite its relentless effort, Dewott often lardless of the oppo's strength due to Winter’s poor ands.

  It tried teag Winter how to train and strategized, but reality proved that some traits are hard to ge.

  Not every frail boy could bee like Wally, who defied his weak body ainy to grow strong.

  Winter couldn’t fight well, train well, or care for his Pokémon properly. No matter how much they traveled, he showed no improvement.

  Dewott felt increasingly exhausted aful.

  During their journey, it reunited with its two panions from the b, but their circumstances were vastly different.

  Tepig, once lively and active, was in poor ditioo harsh training and abuse. Yet, Dewott found itself envying Tepig’s situation.

  Snivy, oher hand was thriving. It had abas weak tearful trainer and lived freely in the wild, surviving effortlessly with its skills and charm.

  When Wiried to battle Snivy, mistaking it for a wild Pokémo refused to fight.

  Instead, it silently hoped that Snivy would remain free and untouched by Winter’s iude.

  Predictably, Winter’s other Pokémon failed to defeat Snivy. Snivy defeated them effortlessly with Vine Whip and Leaf Bde, without even needing to use Attract.

  Snivy even stole food from Winter’s bag before leaving.

  Dewott didn’t interve had no desire to stop Snivy it into their miserable journey.

  In the end, Dewott had to carry Winter and the faieam back to Striaton City after they were left weak and hungry.

  Over time, Dewott grew distant from its trainer and teammates, fog solely on its own training.

  Its ialent aermination made it increasingly powerful, yet its battles under Winter’s and remained disastrous.

  “Water Gun,” “Razor Shell,” “Aqua Jet,” “Fury Cutter”—Winter cycled through moves without strategy, switg only when one failed. How could they win like that?

  Despite learning many new moves on its own, Winter didn’t even know what moves Dewott had mastered.

  The dream’s fragmented ses fshed rapidly, eventually repying their st three battles.

  Against a blond-haired boy, Dewott k would lose under Winter’s dire. Yet it rejoiced in its final surprise attack that secured a win.

  Against a purple-haired boy, it followed Winter’s orders and lost miserably despite its strength.

  But wheed by a weak Kabuto instead of a stroabuzz or determiurtwig, Dewott couldn’t accept it.

  Challenging the purple-haired boy agai ignored Winter’s ands.

  It fought Turtwig with all its strength. Though it lost, it felt liberated, relishing the joy of an urained battle.

  The dream ended, a woke up in a dark mood.

  “Dewott, you’re awake!”

  Winter’s worried expressiht a faint warmth to Dewott’s heart.

  No matter how i Winter was, he still cared for it.

  That occasional care had kept Dewott from abandoning him like Snivy had its trainer.

  “Cha-cha!”

  Though weak, Dewott responded with a crisp cry.

  Winter rexed, smiling at Dewott’s softened expression.

  But Dewott’s expression suddenly darkened with panic.

  “Dewott, what’s wrong?”

  Dewott didn’t answer, frantically searg for something.

  After several seds, it froze, lying ba the bed with hollow eyes.

  Its cherished scalchops were gone.

  To Dewott, the scalchops were irrepceable. Though they could regrow, but the process was long and arduous, leavi signifitly weaker in the meantime.

  “Dewott, say something! Don’t ignore me!” Winter pleaded, eyes red with worry.

  Dewott turned away, unwilling to face him.

  If the scalchops had been lost in battle, Dewott wouldn’t have minded. But this wasn’t the first time Winter had failed to retrieve them after a loss.

  Everythi hopeless.

  Sometimes, maturity and despair arrive in an instant—an instant built on tless disappois.

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