Little Pokémon BW hc/scenario: Hilda or Hilbert end up with Ghetsis's Hydregion, rescuing the poor thing from it's abusive trainer. It's at first a very, VERY mean thing that'll bare its teeth, threatening to bite. It thrashes when it's touched, flinching and snarling as it rips itself away from its new trIner, glaring at them venomously. It expects to be hurt when physical contact is applied, it associates pain with the hand of man lays upon it. It's extra territorial with food and bedding, as that was often used against it. It's easily overwhelmed by attention directed to it because it's only ever been addressed when exercising the will of its old master
It's never known gentleness, or love, or companionship. The concept of trust is incredibly foreign to the poor thing. It can hardly comprehend a reality where safety isn't something that has to be fought, or where resources are just freely given. It couldn't imagine a world where the stench of human doesn't cause a spike of fear and loathing
But eventually, it learns. Let's say its new trainer is Hilda. She not only gives it basic Pokémon food, but often other treats as well like Poké Cubes or macarons. She gives it a bell with a chime that just soothes all it's deep-seated hurt. She doesn't yell at it, she doesn't flinch when it abruptly bites. She knows it knows nothing else. She constantly talks to it softly and gently. She figures out where it likes to be scratched and stroked oh-so sweetly
And it comes to a point where Hydregion forgets Frustration because that is how happy it is. Instead, it learns Return as it increasingly warms up to her
It'll purr now when her hand reaches over. It asks for belly rubs. Maybe it even gets to a point where Hilda is told by a vet that she needs to stop giving Hydregion so many treats, because it's now plump and absolutely spoiled rotten. Perhaps it likes to lay at her and nap there, as there's no safer place to be rest than in its trainer's personal space. It'll bug her, demanding pets and attention. It'll rountinely bring her a ball for a game of fetch, no matter the situation or where they are or what she's doing. It probably even begs from her every time she's eating, begging for just /one/ more fry
So essentially, it behaves just like the rest of her Pokémon, who all act as her partners when in combat, but become just her pets outside of battle
And then, it all reaches a point where it goes from hitting opponents with Frustration at max power to hitting them with Return at max power
That's the fate I want for Ghetsis's Hydregion. The poor thing deserves so much better