Once again, another out-of-context chapter that had to be re-written because the original was lost through multiple board hacks! For better context, look toward the links in this topic's first post. Onward! Tiny chapter 4.
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Chapter 4 ~Eevee~

Once the engine stopped humming I awoke to the silence of midnight. The moon was half full and watching over me. I always felt the moon had a guardian-like quality for those of us comfortable in the cover of dark. It was like some far off father unable to help you directly, but always watchful and encouraging. In other words, it in no way resembled Damon’s father.

I licked my fangs to perhaps get back the taste of his blood. It was still there, barely, and I tried to remember our escape in all its glory. For me, the departure was months in the making, but I know Damon had long been under his parents’ thumb. He tolerated them, followed their commands, gave up so much of his freedom for no reason I could understand. It was frustrating not to be able to tell him that he didn’t have to live as a servant. Countless nights in his room, sniffing at his fresh welts after his latest beating, I had wished I could tell him about that night we first met. It was that night which taught me how to thrive in this world, and not just survive it.

Thank goodness he embraced the idea of becoming a pokemon trainer, otherwise I was not sure how long it would take for the guy to take control of his own life.

We left the jeep to head into the lab, which was really more of a giant white tarp on some sticks. Once inside the circus-like structure, everything looked more like a laboratory. Glass vessels and scratched up machinery scattered over endless countertops, all surrounding long time-worn tables with built-in sinks and gas outlets. Damon and I would go there every once in a while to not be at his house, but I usually preferred to stay outside.

“Your nose looks okay,” Sans told Damon. “And I think I have just the gift for you.” He walked briskly to a cabinet at the far wall of his lab and opened the doors to find three pokeballs all neatly facing the same direction. He walked back toward us, one pokeball in hand.

“I know just the right guide for your journey,” Sans said, and he released a Totodile.

I measured up the tiny crocodile pokemon, who smiled widely in his battle stance. He energetically jogged back to the professor’s side and jumped back around to face Damon and I, raising his fists and greeting the two of us.

“This, of course, is a Totodile,” Professor Sans patted him on the head. “Now I’m sure you have studied up on the species itself, but each pokemon is unique within its species so long as you have the ability to find and appreciate those differences. Damon, I want you and this Totodile to share every experience together on this pokemon journey. He is here to help you not only succeed in gyms, but also in life. Come here, Totodile.”

The water type jumped into the professor’s arms as he walked closer to Damon, the three of them towered above my floor-level vantage point.

“I know these aren’t the best circumstances, Damon. It would be shocking for me to expect you to be ready to leave right away, especially after what happened with you family.”

“No, no,” Damon interrupted. “Don’t worry about that. That’s over. I’ve been wanting this for a long time,” he said, looking down at me, “and we’re ready.”

“That strength can take you far Damon,” the professor said, “but I want you to remember to learn from your pokemon.” He glanced toward me, quickly breaking eye contact as soon as possible. “I know your bond with Eevee is rock solid. It’s time to open your heart to more now. Let Totodile, and any other pokemon you catch, teach you about anything and everything. I know you two will be the best of friends.”

The professor handed Damon Totodile’s pokeball and the pokemon hesitantly started walking from Sans to his new trainer. Totodile was a bit of a shrimp, at least on my first impression. I was already accustomed to battling pokemon many times his size, so he didn’t register to me as a threat.

“Professor, thank you so much,” Damon said. “I know how strong Feraligatrs can be and I promise I can get him there.”

“Well,” Sans laughed under his breath, “that may not be for a long while, Damon. One step at a time, all right?”

Damon picked up the Totodile from his waist and brought it close for inspection.

“Hi!” The pokemon said, giggling to itself with that raspy voice all Totodile’s have.

“Well his teeth look sharp,” Damon said, setting him back down. “Maybe he likes music.” Damon set Totodile back down.

“Music?” Professor Sans looked confused.

“Oh, yeah,” Damon stumbled over his words. “Did I say music? I meant to say something else, sorry.” He didn’t want anyone to know about our visits to the symphony hall, not even Sans who he liked so much. I always thought of the professor as a nice enough human, but ultimately worthless. Strength, I learned, never came from depending on others, it came from believing one could do anything on their own. I would have much rather preferred Damon coming to that same resolution and running away from home on his own accord. But at least we were finally leaving, and Sans did provide that annoyingly chipper little fellow next to me.

“What are you so happy about?” I asked the Totodile. He looked at me like I spoke a different language.

“What am I what?” he asked, squinting at me. “I’m Totodile!”

“Obviously,” I replied. “Nevermind.”

“Oh, good! It appears your two partners in crime have already made friends.” Sans bent down to pat Totodile on the head, but didn’t dare extend his hand to me. In fact, if I looked closely I could make out some old scars of mine on his left hand. It’s not as if I disliked the professor, but he fell under the category of too weak to be trusted. I only trusted one person in this life, and thank goodness I found one like Damon who didn’t make me include any other liabilities. At least up until then.

While Damon and the professor said their goodbyes I made sure to give Totodile some helpful tips for the future.

“I don’t know what Sans has been telling you, but I need you to understand something.” He looked back at me intently, like he couldn’t wait to find out how he could help. “You will become strong, and you will fight for us. Don’t ever think for a second you can become strong enough to do anything else than that one task. You will fight for us. And if I see you do anything to screw over Damon, I will end you.”

He looked frozen, scared, but snapped out of it quickly.

“Okay,” Totodile replied, “but only because I’m always up for a good battle.” He stuck out his paw, probably wanting a handshake. “Teammates?”

I stared at his silly grin and couldn’t help but laugh. We would find out how strong he was soon enough. I turned back toward the road, a fading night sky overhead, and led the way out of Damon’s personal hell.