Borne of Simplicity

Borne of Simplicity

A One-Shot by Ash Kitsune
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When he first came to town, Celadon City was in a mass panic.

Some thought that a Snorlax was walking into town, others thought they were under attack from ground-types with the way the ground shook when he took a step, but Officer Jenny knew one thing for certain when she first laid eyes on the massive, armored man.

He was no man. He was far, far too large to be called a man. Indeed, he was massive, broad, and heavy, more monster than Man.

Yet still he walked, looking around with narrowed eyes under a thick brow before she finally worked up the courage to stop him, her Arcanine at her side.

This was her first encounter with the man she came to know as Braum. A simple mind in such a massive body, she was able to calm him down, even if she quietly wished he'd stop saluting her and calling her 'Sah' every time she gave him an order.

The giant eventually came to live just outside of Celadon, much to her and Erika's relief. A hut he had built himself, not that she was entirely sure how, but he would quietly live out on his own... until one day, she came to understand the strange, massive man.

The second day he worn his armor into town.

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"Braum? What are you doing?"

The city was a mess from the running battle, and Officer Jenny couldn't help but stare at the massive man that was preparing to wade into what could be considered a small warzone, pokemon attacks flying left and right without much care to the participants, friendly fire carefully skirted by narrow margins, narrowed eyes and grit teeth belaying the frustration held by the Katonian START- Special Tactics and Response Team.

Team Rocket was pushing them to the brink as they clashed around the Cerulean Game Corner, the secret Team Rocket base this whole damn time... and now this?

"Don' worry none Miz Jenny. Juz doin' me job." The large man's voice grumbles like stones down a mountain as he takes the large metal plate off of his back, which belatedly Jenny recognizes as the door to his hut, and now can see is clearly a large, thick shield. He casually steps forwards and shakes his arm, making the shield expand a bit further and plants it into the ground with a grunt as a Hyper Beam from a enraged Gyarados screams in... only to be stopped dead by the large man and his shield.

"Dez Rockits, they don't seem to nice." He says casually, even as some of the battle stops as START members and Team Rocket Grunts alike can only look on in shock, the Gyarados looking on incredulously as he stands back up again, Jenny startling a bit at the sudden light as Braum's flack jacket's straps flare in light as six Pokemon spring free from their Pokeballs even as he pulls a large, thick metal club off of his belt. "Momma always said wez Ogryn are 'ere to stomp dem not-nice bullies... so wez gonna stomp 'em flat! Cuz Momma can't lie, n' there's too many lil' uns around here."

The Ogryn's pokemon let our a roaring cheer, or perhaps a battle cry, a small silver-grey fox in particular leaping upon her large trainer's shoulder, sparkling in the sunlight even as he slams his club into his shield, and charges forwards with his own roaring battle cry, and even a bit of a laugh, tackling the Gyarados to the ground. “COME! WE WILL BREAK THEM! FOR DA EMPRAH!”

As if he was made for it, the massive man wades into the chaos, smacking Team Rocket Grunt and their Pokemon alike with his club even as his Pokemon launch attacks of their own. From the surprisingly small Ninetales on his shoulder, to two gracefully swooping Pigeot that seem to blur in and out of sight as they dive forwards, driving the enemy into the path of the foward-marching man, who bats them aside as he moves even-forwards towards the Game Corner itself.

The fourth was a gracefully dancing Kirlia, who seemed to concern herself little with her opponents even as Moonblasts and lances of Psychic energy split through the battlelines, driving away even more.

A small Charmandar ran at the man's feet, spitting flames at any who dared approach from under the large shield, looking incredibly pleased with itself whenever it hit anyone, and simply resting against the large, broad back of the man, a Slowpoke held on, unaware and at peace with the world.

Jenny quietly reflected on when she first met the big man, and after a moments silence, charged after him. After all, he was putting in all the work. Might as well make use of it and break the siege, and hopefully, Team Rocket.

Of Team Rocket only their leader and two Admin were able to escape and evade capture that night, totaling over two-hundred and fifteen captured Grunts, almost a thousand Team Rocket pokemon, and only two casualties. The START would not have been nearly as successful without the intervention of Braum, who was inducted into the team three weeks later by personal invitation of Lance Blackthorn...

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When Miz Jenny S'ah took me out of da citi, she told me dat I wuz too big to stay in Celi-Cela-Cel-da city, n' she wuzint wrong. It's small, n' made for 'lil unz, not for an Ogryn loik me. I'm juz too big.

Ah loik Miz Jenny S'ah. She's reel smart n' kind. She waz a lil' loud but daz to be expected from the Aber-Abri... Pu-leeze men. Dey keep da peace n' make sure lil' unz can walk around in peace. I like the Pu-leeze men. Dey remind me of Momma. Momma always said: “You listen to anyone that upholds peace n' order, and you help 'em 'owever you can, cuz daz what an Ogryn's for.”

And daz the Truth cuz Momma don't lie.

When I wuz in trainin' the Cut Man, 'e told me wunc, “Braum, you're gonna a Bone'ead. Dat means I gotsta push yew harder then da others. I'm gonna break you, n' build you up better for it. You're gonna learn how to build a defe-defi-defen-sturdy she'ta, n' how to break one. You're gonna learn how tew reed n' how to lead n' I'm gonna push yew to the brink, cuz wez Cadians, and no one doez it bet'a.”

I liked 'em. He waz mean but he made me strong, and I like bein' strong.

I wonder what he'z dewin' now. Cadia wuz pretty beat up while dey waz attakin' us n' all. 'Ope he's ok...

Muh first day in the forest wuz when I found Miz Soft-Tails. She wuz a specky lil' thing, real angry like, like de shouty mind folk da used to throw lightin' dat worked for th' Commissar. She's real pretty, even when she wuz covered 'n dirt, but she ain't been eatin much. Thin ribs.

I had caught two biggun-birds dat tried to peck me eyes out n' wuz cookin' em when she tried to attack me. Think she wanted the food for 'erself. But I'm tuff, n' a little bit n' scratch ere and there wuznt gonna harm me none. I picked 'er up by the scruff n' smacked 'er noze with a finger like Momma taught me when I wuz little. “No!” I told 'er. She tried again and I batted 'er again. “No. Ain't no reason tew be rude n' all.”

… I ain't stchewpid ya know. Wunzn't before I got muh Bone'ead surgery, and I ain't now. I'm not... fast, n' I don't gots a lot of things I need tuh think about, n' I ain't not smart like... not like Soft-tails... but I ain't stew-sta-stupid. When she tried to 'urt me with 'er power, I knew she just needed a friend.

Ain't never felt somewun elses feelin's like dat before... made me feel all sad.

Soft-Tails was alone and had been for a long time. Evolved reel early by accident n' looks different from the rest of 'er kind, and they don't want 'er. That's ok becuz I want her. I put 'er in me lap, finished cookin' de birds n' shared it with her. She was reel warm n' soft and I couldn't 'elp but pet 'er as we sat there together.

Momma always said, “Yew need to look after the little 'unz first! They ain't gots the size n' strength of an Ogryn to keep 'em safe so you need to provide it!” And dats true cuz Momma don't lie.

When I woke up Soft-Tails was gone but I wazn't worried, needed to made me forti-fortif-fortis-bunker first. Took some time to get whut I needed but the trees 'ere ain't so tuff I couldn't chop 'em down with me shield. When I set up my fire the next night, there she wuz. I cot sum big rats this time. They make my mouth tingle, like when I bit into dat powercell for a lasgun dat one time. Hue he he. That was funny.

Ah shared with 'er again, n' dis time she came up to me and settled against me to sleep. She was even warmer n' softer than last time 'n I found me comb in' me sack n' combed 'er fur n' tails. It was reel noice.

She stuck by me then. She's real smart. Likes to talk in' pictures which I like, real easy to understand. 'Elped me make th' rest of our friends. Two huntin' birds dat remind me of the Im-peri-al Crest, they like snugglin' on m' 'ead, a lil' fire spittin' lizard, ah call 'em Salamandar after those nice Spess Mahrines I met once. He's a cutin'. A lil' dancer, she's real purty n' Soft-Tails' best friend. They spent a lotta time talkin'. N' a fewllow like me. Ain't stewpid... juz a bit slow.

My lil' 'unz.

I got a bunch of 'em now... Soft-Tails, she's been helpin' lots, showin' me what I need to do and whut I needz tew learn so I can be a... Poker-polka-pokerman trainer, so I can keep all of 'm lil' ones without “de pul-leez” taken 'em away! Can't have that.

Momma always said- “Yew never stand down n' never give up, cuz an Ogryn that don't wanna be moved won't be, and a Ogryn can't fall cuz he will be surrendering hiz little ones.”

N' of course dats the truth, cuz Momma don't lie.

… I miss Momma. I hope I get to sees her 'n me il' bruther again.

Dat champion fellow he's real neat. Dunno why he doesn't wear hiz fancy hat to go along with hiz fancy coat, like the rest of the Commissars, but 'e was real noice and gave me a job! He also had one of hiz lil' uns teach Lil' Dancer how to tel-tela-telep-tel... uh... warp from place to place, soes we didn' need to leave da bunker.

I like it here, it's good to be aware of how important things are. Always liked that word, Important.

Momma always said, “A man's gotta know what's important.” 'N Momma don't lie. Takin' care of my little 'uns and helpin' the small 'uns?

Tha's Important.