Trust and New Beginnings
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Chapter Two: Trust and New Beginnings
Draco sat by the riverbank, Ralts nestled quietly beside him, its soft green bangs fluttering in the breeze. The calm, serene atmosphere of the Pokémon world was a stark contrast to the rigid halls of Malfoy Manor. Though he’d only been in this strange new place for a short while, Draco found that time seemed to move differently here—more slowly, more deliberately. He glanced down at Ralts, who was watching him with those large, curious eyes. It was still strange to him that this little creature could sense his emotions so easily.
“Bonding with it, huh?” Draco muttered, recalling Charlie’s advice from earlier. “I’ve never bonded with anything that wasn’t a spell or a broomstick.” He sighed, running a hand through his blond hair. Ralts remained quiet, its head slightly tilted as if waiting patiently for Draco to say more.
Charlie’s voice broke through the quiet. “It’ll take time,” he said, sitting down beside Draco. He’d been off gathering supplies, but now he seemed content to sit and share the quiet moment. “Ralts is a Psychic-type. It’s naturally tuned in to your emotions. It knows how you’re feeling, probably better than you do.”
Draco frowned. “That’s unsettling.”
Charlie laughed softly, his rugged, easy-going demeanor a stark contrast to Draco’s reserved one. “Maybe. But once you get used to it, it becomes second nature. Besides, it looks like Ralts already likes you.”
Draco glanced down at the small Pokémon again. He’d never had any sort of magical creature simply take to him this way. Even the family’s house-elf avoided him most days. “Why does it like me?” he asked, the question coming out more vulnerable than he intended.
“Because it senses something good in you,” Charlie said, shrugging as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. “Ralts is drawn to positive emotions—compassion, empathy. Even if you don’t feel it all the time, Ralts can pick up on it. You’re not all coldness and Malfoy pride, Draco. There’s more to you than that.”
Draco tensed slightly, a hint of defensiveness creeping into his posture. “I didn’t say I was cold.”
Charlie raised an eyebrow, amused. “You didn’t have to.” His gaze softened after a moment. “Look, I know you’ve got a lot of expectations on you back home. Being a Malfoy carries a certain… weight. But here, none of that matters. No one knows your family name, no one cares about your past. You get to decide who you are.”
Draco stared at the water for a moment, letting Charlie’s words sink in. A world where no one knew the Malfoy name… it sounded too good to be true. But for the first time in his life, it seemed like a real possibility.
“So, what do I do now?” Draco asked, feeling that familiar sense of being lost.
“Well,” Charlie said, leaning back on his hands, “first thing’s first—you’ll need to learn how to train Ralts. You can’t just expect it to follow your lead without building some trust.”
“Trust again?” Draco muttered. He glanced at Ralts, who was now sitting quietly by his side, looking as patient as ever. The Pokémon’s psychic presence was subtle but constant, like a soft hum in the back of Draco’s mind.
“Trust is everything in this world,” Charlie said. “Without it, you won’t get far.”
Draco mulled over this. Trust wasn’t something that came easily to him—especially after spending his life under the watchful eyes of the wizarding world. But here, in this world, maybe he could try something different.
“So, what’s the first step?” Draco asked, straightening up a bit, his determination creeping back in.
Charlie grinned. “Start by getting to know Ralts. Spend time with it, learn its moods, what it likes. It’ll do the same with you. Then, we can work on the basics—like battling and commands.”
“Battling?” Draco echoed, raising an eyebrow. “You mean like dueling?”
“In a way,” Charlie said with a nod. “But it’s more about strategy and connection. You and your Pokémon have to work as a team.”
Draco looked down at Ralts, who blinked up at him with wide, understanding eyes. It was clear the little creature was waiting, eager to see how Draco would respond. Slowly, Draco extended his hand, letting it hover just above Ralts’ head. The Pokémon let out a soft, almost content sound as Draco’s fingers brushed against its smooth, green hair.
“There,” Charlie said with a smile. “That’s a start.”
For the first time in a long time, Draco felt a strange sense of peace. The weight of his family name, of the expectations he’d carried for so long, felt a little lighter here. Maybe, just maybe, this world had something to offer him that the wizarding world never could—a chance to be himself, without the legacy of the Malfoy name hanging over his head.
And as he sat there, with Ralts at his side and the sun setting over the horizon, Draco found himself ready to embrace whatever came next.
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