FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

I woke up due to a crack of lightning coming from outside my window in the Center's trainer dorms. I groaned softly and sat up, looking around the room. I noticed Pi and Christina had shifted closer to me in the night, which explained why my left side was hot, but I couldn't figure out why lightning had woken me up, until I realized I couldn't hear the hum of the lights from the hallway. I slowly climbed out of bed and got dressed, muttering “Makes no sense for a single lightning strike to knock out the power of the entire city, especially when the Pokemon Center is on its own power supply. Pi, Christina wake up." I gently shook my two Pokemon who slowly stirred awake and said “Something's going on, and I don't like it." They nodded slowly and hopped off the bed landing on their feet. I contemplated whether I should go and wake up the girls, then remembered they were both pretty damn heavy sleepers, especially after exercising, which we'd done all day by running to Viridian.

I mean, we'd made good time, but didn't exactly lead to my friends being in any state to help with whatever was going on in the center, and not the rest of town, which appeared lit from what I could see outside the window of my room. I groaned and said “The center is under attack, isn't it? Fucking hell, Jason what the fuck did you do to my world that I'm reenacting your anime memories?" I sighed and got up then led my team into the hallway where Nurse Joy and a pair of chancey were running back and forth worrying over Pokemon in the ICU, Pokemon stored in their pokeballs at the center, and the incubator room. I coughed loudly to get the Nurse's attention.

She turned toward me quickly, and saw Pi. She smiled and said “Uhm, young man could you please lend us your pikachu to help power a few of the backup generators? You see, someone or something knocked out the electrical systems of the center." I glanced at Pi for her opinion and she nodded in acquiescence with the nurse's request.

I turned to the Nurse, who Jason's memories labeled Nurse Joy for some reason, and said “Sure thing ma'am, Pi agreed so you can take her to the generator room, and Christina and I will watch the front desk in case anyone comes in, shall we?" She smiled and asked politely if we'd really do that for her and I nodded saying “Sure, hell I have a feeling what ever is going on, is going to lead to me and my team needing to be ready." She sighed at that and I smiled sadly saying “I hope I'm wrong, but the rest of the city is still fully powered, so the power grid isn't down, meaning someone specifically targeted the Center's electrical grid for some reason."

She sighed and nodded saying “I'd come to the same conclusion, but I honestly don't know what they were hoping to do by attacking a hospital. We have no fighting Pokemon raised to protect the center on hand, and most of the Pokemon that could fight, that are in the center are in the process of healing. If you and your partner could handle the problem, that'd be wonderful." I nodded at the nurse's request and glanced at Christina who just nodded at me as if to say 'We can do that boss man."

I turned to Nurse Joy before we went our separate ways and asked “Are there any Pokemon not injected with the medication that has them give egg births, and if so where are you keeping them? I ask because Pokemon during live births are very much weaker than they are during an egg birth, and I know for a fact someone has to have a breeder's license, doctor's license, or nursing license to even have Pokemon that aren't on the medication around. I also know it's usually supposed to be prohibited to catch Pokemon that are pregnant just in case, but not everyone can tell the signs, and usually if the Pokemon is going to give a live birth, a person's pokeball will lock the Pokemon in stasis, then send it to the nearest center, so I figured I'd better ask in case we had any of said Pokemon in the center, because whoever is doing this, probably wants to steal the Pokemon."

She stared at me and actually stopped then turned and said “Alright young man, you may be a certified trainer, as your ID shows, but there is no way you should know all that about pregnant Pokemon, nor about the things to do with them. I'm starting to think you have something to do with the Center's electrical problem, unless you tell me where you get your information, and how you knew the center's power was offline without the city being affected? Most beginning trainers believe that Pokemon centers are on the normal power grid, all Pokemon give birth via eggs unless they are told otherwise, and virtually no normal trainer knows the pregnancy protocols nor the requirements to deal with a live birth giving Pokemon. If you don't explain I'm going to try and call Officer Dahlia Jenny, head of Viridian City Police, and have her take you in for questioning, because I am starting to think you have something to do with the Center's power problem."

I blinked and sighed then said “Alright, I'll explain, but please don't pass this information along beyond to the authorities, including gym leaders. I'm one of Professor Oak's research assistants, and I've thought about getting a license to be either a breeder, or Pokemon doctor in the future alongside my trainer's license, and a possible coordinator's license. My name is Jacob, Jake to my family, Red to my friends, Okami. My trainer ID labels me as “Red" Okami due to the fact I didn't want people to associate me with my parents, Akane “Inari" Kitsune, and Jericho “Hell-hound" Wolf, two league officials who wanted their kids to face proper challenges and not coast on their fame. My older Sister Rosalyn “Rose" Okami, named for dad's last name with Mom's ethnicity, is currently on a mission in Orre that I have no idea what she is doing, and my parents are at the league headquarters and the Sea Foam Islands respectively. I am lab certified as both a trainer, and a Pokemon Peacekeeper due to having to take care of the lab's Pokemon more than my two companions. I know the pregnancy protocols cause Professor Oak drilled them into the head of EVERY SINGLE LAB TRAINER HE'S EVER SPONSORED! He took an interest in me in particular because of the BS surrounding me when I was a kid that led to me pretending to be lazy, it should be in my file under the words 'restricted, eyes only,' along with 'Medical Researcher's license required to access.' My mother had those files restricted for reasons I have no idea about."

I took a breath after my little rant and continued “As for knowing about the power being out? I couldn't hear the hum of the electric lights after a lightning strike sounded outside the window and woke me up. I noticed the city's lights were still on, which confused me, and immediately assumed someone or something was causing problems for the Center. I have no idea who or what would attack a place of healing, but my instincts tell me they will go after Pokemon that can't protect themselves, such as those locked in stasis, those preparing to give birth, and those that are in a vulnerable state, but not quite critical condition, unless they have a medical facility nearby in which case they'll steal every Pokemon in the Center, and not care about possible casualties. Standard League Protocol says that any trainer, no matter their experience level is supposed to defend Pokemon Centers at all cost, even if it means their lives are forfeit due to the fact that Pokemon Centers are more important than an individual trainer. With that in mind, I was asking questions to know how critical a situation we are in. After this is all over, I'm probably going to freak out over the fact I'm literally chewing out a Pokemon nurse, who could basically blacklist me from any gods damned Pokemon Center if she takes it the wrong way, but for now, I have a job to do. So, with that all said, Orders Ma'am?"

She took a few minutes to process all my words and said “You realize Trainers are no longer militarized, right?" I merely nodded and she sighed then said “Fine, you want to go by the old bylaws that never went off the books, then trainer Okami, I Cecilia Joy of the Joy clan, Pokemon Nurse in charge of Viridian City Pokemon Center order you to guard the Pokemon Center as protocol dictates. However, seeing as we have guests and injured Pokemon in the Facility, DO NOT USE ATTACKS THAT COULD BE LETHAL! Also, DO NOT do anything that will take you out of the battle before reinforcements arrive. The center should have sent out a code blue meaning our power was cut the moment whoever did this attacked, which means we have about half an hour before the police arrive. If we can hold off the enemy that long, you and I should be fine. I would rather you didn't push your partner to the point they need medical attention just because we're in a critical situation. If you help me with this, I'll give you some of my books that breeders need to study as a reward, as without the computers working I can't put in a proper request to the league for this to be classified as a mission, and we may not even be attacked. It could be a freak malfunction, but you and I are both pretty sure that is not the case, aren't we?"

I nodded and said “Aye Nurse Commander Joy, I have a feeling that whoever the fuck is doing this, is going to attack, try to steal all the Pokemon they can, and run. That said, they aren't very smart to attack a center in the middle of a storm when emergency power could go out if a damn electrical attack hits it wrong." She nodded and I said “So, again, are there any Pokemon in a condition of giving live birth to their young, how many critical patients do you have, and how many injured Pokemon are locked in stasis while they heal? Also how many Pokemon in the center are there total? I only ask because this is a critical situation, and I need all the information I can get."

She studied me and said “You act like no sixteen year old I've met. As for Pokemon in a mothering state, which is what we call natural births, we have 5, a growlithe mother, a raticate mother, a Raichu who gave birth to her first pichu and has two more on the way, and two mankeys, one of which was close to evolving, and the other was injured when she was brought in, so her child's birth may be in danger if I don't oversee it personally. As for injured Pokemon, there are about 50 critically that could heal with just a healing machine, 25 with a simple broken bone, and another 25 that are just in stasis because they're trainers aren't here for them, but the pokeballs are locked so only I or their trainers can bring them out. As I don't have a Pokemon of my own to lead them, other than the center's chanseys, I think we're going to have to rely on your team."

I sighed and nodded then said “So 100 non combatants aside from my companions, the chanseys, and yourself, 5 mothering Pokemon, one of which may have her child stillborn if you don't watch over her personally, and a Pokemon Center's worth of medical equipment, medication, and other materials including locally stored data. Great this is going to be a clusterfuck if I'm not careful as I am currently our only combatant with only Christina to help because Pi will be helping keep the backup generator on." She nodded with her own sigh and I asked “Want me to report to the entrance just in case anyone is literally stupid enough to try to come in the front doors?"

She nodded with a tired sigh and said, “That'd be wonderful Trainer Okami." I nodded and ran to the front door, while she led Pi to the generator room, and prepared to check up on the mankey having problems. At the same time Christina and I headed to the entrance where I was hoping the idiots attacking were stupid enough to come in the front door, spoiler alert, they weren't.

I arrived in the front of the center with Christina only to hear a crash from the hallway we'd just left and turn around to face it. Rappelling down from the ceiling on a long rope were the two people I'd seen earlier with their meowth. They landed in the hallway and the girl said “Well James, it looks like we're in with none the wiser, thank god the boss had the entire town hit from different directions to give us more time, right?" While she was talking her companions rappelled down after her and I decided to hear if they'd spill any more of their plans, since you know they didn't see me on the way down, nor had they turned around yet, making me think that either they were really bad criminals, they honestly expected a Pokemon Center to have no one but Nurse Joy in it, That they were confident they could beat anyone who heard their plans before they could report them to the authorities, or, quite possibly, all three.

While I was considering this, the aforementioned James said “Well, the boss had his men attack key points in the city to buy us time, but they were just ordered to cause a distraction before the center's blue code was sent out. That said, we have at most an hour before the local police arrive, even with someone on the inside keeping gym trainers and the local gym leader busy." I sighed as they all but admitted someone was keeping the gym leader busy, though I thought that was more a cover up than anything, because Mom's office had been full of files on each gym leader, and this was probably the first time Viridian had been attacked while Giovanni was the gym leader of it. James, who from behind looked like a really thin guy, or masculine girl with a short haircut said “Should we go after the mothering Pokemon first, the critically injured, the mildly injured, or the stasis since Admin Proton can probably hack the stasis Pokemon's balls open?"

I sighed and whispered to Christina “Do, do they seriously not notice us?" She shrugged and I noticed that the duo's meowth had just landed and was looking around in front of them, yet NOT A SINGLE ONE OF THE TRIO HAD TURNED AROUND YET! What the hell kind of criminals were they? Christina, who probably hadn't seen any type of criminal behavior or anything similar seemed amused that they didn't notice us, but I just kept thinking they couldn't be that oblivious. I was hoping that they literally had something up their sleeves for if we attacked them, because if not, they were a bunch of fucking idiots who could not have belonged in a damn criminal organization. Especially one competent enough to distract the police from their operation, unless the center wasn't their actual target, which was a possibility in my mind aftter the shit they were pulling.

The meowth, which could apparently talk, suddenly said “Hey Jesse, Jimmy boy, you guys did make sure we don't have anyone who's going to interfere besides the noirce right? I wanted to punt the meowth for the destruction of the word nurse, but I was honestly too curious to see what the two idiots who'd come down before it would say. The meowth seemed to be of the same mind as he asked “You made sure that no one was going to interfere with today's mission, right? That wasn't above yous two, right? You made sure that there were no trainers who could cause us problems? You checked the cameras before you shut down the Pokemon Center's power, then you checked the building on the way down? Because, I didn't look around on the way down, as even if I'm a cat, I don't want to test landing on my feet from over thirty feet in the air."

At his words I could tell Jesse and James were feeling sheepish because of how their shoulders shrank in on themselves and I facepalmed silently at the fact that, yes they were in fact that stupid, and I had to believe that whoever was in charge of this operation, had sent them after the Pokemon Center cause they didn't care if these idiots failed. Jesse spoke up saying “I mean I didn't see anyone in the hallway on the way down, and this hallway does leads to the bedrooms, so you'd think they'd have come running when we blew a hole in the roof, right?" I sighed and thought “You know, she's right about that, but you'd still want to make sure no one was in the lobby when you attacked. I also can't believe my friends are literally sleeping through an attack on the Pokemon Center...What the fuck kind of life am I living? Is this a comedy, a tragedy, or were my friends seriously that exhausted?" Jesse continued “Also, we sorta had the center's locks on the trainers rooms electronically lock most of them in before cutting the power, so even if they are in, unless they want to be fined for property damage, I don't think they'll be a threat to us."

I blinked and whispered to Christina, “You know, they are sounding like a mix of incompetent, and competent the more time goes on. I just honestly don't know which one is more prevalent at this point. That said, we let them monologue enough, yeah?" She nodded and I whispered “Use dragon rage on them, especially the meowth, and after your attack I'll go in swinging, shall I?" She nodded and I held up three fingers before saying “On three, then I'm going to use my fingers to count down for us, when my last finger falls, attack with a WEAKER dragon's breath, so you don't kill them, ok?" She nodded while looking at me as if asking, 'Do you seriously have so little faith in your partner?' I shrugged and answered the look with 'Maybe? I mean you did kinda try to kill me with three dragon attacks at once in Oak's lab.' She slowly nodded as if to say 'Good point, I'd not trust me to not go overkill either after that.' She pouted after that looking at me with big eyes, and I muttered “Never knew a salamander can pout, but I trust you, ok?" She nodded happily and I held up the three fingers before slowly lowering each one, in a slow mental count.

As she was about to release her attack the meowth turned around and said “Jesse, you know how I was starting to think you and I were both the brains of the operation?"

Jesse, who's long red hair whipped James as she turned around, asked “No, but please do explain what you're getting at with that."

Meowth sighed and said “Jesse, I thought your logic was sound, sadly, I was wrong. You either didn't lock all the rooms, or you should have looked in the lobby on your way down, cause we have a very angry lizard, and a rather tall twerp, staring at our backs, well our fronts and Jimmy boy's back now. I suggest we forgo the motto with this one, and just call out your Pokemon BEFORE WE GET DRAGON ENERGY BLASTED DOWN THE HALLWAY!"

Jesse, who I had the time to study while Meowth was talking and I was starting to lower my third finger, was a 5 foot 9 inches tall woman, which was pretty tall honestly, with a nice figure, wearing a white outfit with a giant red R on the front, and I shouted, “Christina time for stealth is over since they're seeing us, blast those Rocket Scum now!" She nodded and released her dragon rage attack on the two, and the unsuspecting James who was just turning around, right as Jesse released an ekans, who materialized in the way of the attack, and weakened it further, but flew into the other three, and sent them flying down the end of the hallway.

I glared at them and said “So, you guys work for those bastards Team Rocket, huh?" They gulped seeing the rage in my eyes, and I said “I really want to freaking beat the ever loving shit out of you, but trainers can still be arrested for using their Pokemon to cause too much bodily harm, and unlike you criminal scumbags, I refuse to force my Pokemon to attack people for my enjoyment. All that is to say, I'm going to enjoy getting my hands dirty, then I'm going to let my Pokemon knock you out with one more attack to knock you out, then have Officer Jenny take you assholes in and get all the information she needs to out of you. So, any requests before I go hog wild on you?"

They stared at me surprised I was so vehemently against their organization and Meowth asked “What did Team Rocket do to you, that has you literally wanting to tear us apart with your bare hands?" I simply smirked and cracked my neck. Meowth gulped and said “One request, for the humans, hit them in the face all you want, for me, not the face?"

I honestly hummed in thought as I considered that, not ignoring the fact ekans was starting to wake up and said “Know what, I'll be nice, I won't hit any of you in the face, but you see, I'm rather pissed for multiple reasons. 1. You're a group of rockets. 2. You made a mothering Pokemon's already difficult live birth, harder. Finally, 3. YOU BASTARDS ATTACKED A POKEMON CENTER WHICH IS NEUTRAL GROUND EVEN TO ENEMY COUNTRIES!" They gulped and Meowth looked at his companions to see if that was true.

James pulled out a Pokemon guide book and started reading then swallowed and said “Proton, he's nuts. Also, the boss and his sister, they might just string us up by our ankles and flay us alive for going along with proton."

Jesse blinked and asked “Why?"

James swallowed and said “Cause the kid is right, Pokemon centers are neutral ground, I mean we haven't technically attacked the nurse, so we haven't broken the accords, but by entering with the intent to do harm to the patients, if this kid is working on the Joy's orders? He has the right to hurt us, BADLY, so long as he doesn't kill us because Pokemon Centers ARE Neutral ground." I nodded and motioned for “Jimmy boy" to go on, causing him to swallow and say “The boss' mother, Madame Boss didn't even attack Pokemon Centers after Oak nearly burned down headquarters the first time a team rocket member broke the accords. I'm starting to think Proton saw us as disposable, and figured “If they succeed, great, if they fail, good riddance."

I shrugged and said “As to the last part, I have no idea. The part about my mentor destroying the old head of Team Rocket's headquarters for breaking the accords? All true. So, you know what, since you guys seem reasonable, I'll give you three options. 1. You turn yourselves into the police, and I don't beat the shit out of you. 2. You run, very fast, and very far, and never attack another Pokemon Center, no matter who orders you to, and maybe I'll let you get away if you tell me where your boss is. Finally Option 3, is that I beat you up, send you flying, and you tell me what you know and how to fix whatever the fuck you did to the center's electrical grid, if you do option 3, I'll hold back, I'll still send you off into space like the rockets you are named for, but if we ever meet again, you won't have a kill on sight order from my Pokemon, what's your choice, cause only 1 and 3 don't make us permanent enemies."

Deep in my mind, some part of me was horrified by the fact I could give them such options, but another part of me was screaming that the Rocket's needed to pay for crimes they would be committing that I probably couldn't stop, and that Pokemon Center's were sacred, to the point even the worst criminals normally wouldn't start a fight in them, let alone damaging their power grids. All I knew for sure, was that this proton bastard, he was going to fucking pay for setting this up, no matter what the idiot trio decided. After a few minutes the three huddled up and started talking, then James turned to me and said “I have a feeling if we pick 2, you literally will try to kill us, yes?" I nodded, and he said “Then we'll pick 3, cause we really don't want to go to jail."

I nodded slowly and said “Number 3 it is. We will be on, slightly amicable terms in the future, but know that if you ever attack another Pokemon Center, I'm not holding back, and your boss? He's fucked if I ever meet him." They nodded and muttered about Proton being a right bastard anyway, then I glanced at Christina and said “Alright Christina, aim a blast at their feet that will hurt them, but send them flying, after they tell me how to fix what they did to the center's power grid." Christina nodded and the Rocket's quickly explained that they'd just weakened the power grid of the center, rather than actually fully disabling it. Meaning that the actual life support machines and what not were untouched, but the alarms, the less critical machines, and the database were all disconnected. I sighed and listened to how to reroute everything properly then said “Alright Christina do your thing, also Rocket Trio, if you survive the fall, I'll allow you a chance to come after us for revenge or whatever, but as soon as the center is back online I'm going after some of your boss' goons. So, where are the people directly under your boss?"

Jesse swallowed and said “We have no idea. We were sent here, because we didn't think that things were going to be this dangerous for us, or that this was neutral territory, then Proton probably hit somewhere else. For all we know, it's us and rookies of the team attacking Viridian, while Proton moves on to the next job." I nodded slowly, figuring it made sense since if their bosses were the children of the one Professor Oak dealt with, they wouldn't want to fuck with Pokemon Centers, as a Pokemon Center was even required to treat criminals and their Pokemon if they came in peace, so long as the criminal didn't break the accords. It was something Madame Boss had signed in order to get Oak to spare her, and it only worked because Kanto was dealing with a war at the time.

I sighed and said “Alright Christina sending them blasting off." She nodded and sent them flying with Dragon Rage, then the two of us turned back on the power, along the way I took in the scenery of the Pokemon Center. The building made use of pokeball spatial technology and was bigger on the inside. I didn't know the technical aspects of it, I just knew it worked and made a subspace pocket within the building. The building had 5 medical wings, usually staffed by a trio of Nurses, and a dozen chancey, 3 Trainer Dorms divided by gender with eight single rooms, and four double rooms in each, allowing for sixteen trainers per Dorm, and had an entirely separate wing for critical condition Pokemon, and mothering Pokemon. Leading to a total of ten wings, with a cafeteria between the dorms, and front check in, as well as an office at the back of the building that was directly connected to the power generator. I was also now understanding why Nurse Joy was so surprised I knew so much, despite being a newbie trainer.

The accords for instance were one of the few things widely published throughout the world, and if one didn't know the Accords well, they probably weren't using a Pokemon Center. Also, if you knew things about the medical field as a junior trainer, either you had studied a lot, you were planning on breaking the accords, or you were studying to be in the medical or researcher fields, which included breeders. I walked to the back of the building and past Nurse Joy's office, which was said to have an attached dorm system for the nurses, and a suite for the head nurse or doctor of the center then rerouted the power and the lights, cameras, and everything else came on. I waved at a camera and said “All's good Nurse Joy, seems I was wrong about someone attacking the Center, some idiots were just messing with the power, and amazingly the Center's most critical systems were untouched by the power being changed over. I also got a little jumpy and put two holes in the building's roof which I will gladly pay for out of pocket. I'm sorry to scare you like that, but I was expecting the worse, and forgot all about the Accords, though Only Team Rocket has signed them of any possible Criminal Organizations, so you can understand why I was jumpy hopefully."

I walked back to the lobby and plopped down in a chair then whispered to Christina “Think she'll by it, partner?" She shrugged and made a fifty/fifty gesture with her paw and I nodded saying “Honestly not sure myself, I'm hooping she will, but if not, well since they technically didn't truly break the accords I can't exactly say much other than I fended them off, and couldn't capture them." She nodded and I stroked her head making her let out little coos of enjoyment, only for Pi to run into the lobby and jump into my lap letting out cute little Cha noises.

I stroke Pi's ears gently while thinking on those two feelings I'd had when I saw the Rocket Trio, and more specifically their uniforms. I wondered if there wasn't more to my own mind than I was realizing, almost as if I had suppressed parts of it. Cause no one should have such a...visceral reaction to someone attacking a Pokemon Center if they were so sacred, and I didn't even know if Team Rocket, WOULD or WOULDN'T commit crimes in the future that were worthy of a personal kill on sight order to my team. I also couldn't help but wonder just how much information was floating around in my head that the Jason part of me didn't know, and why it only came up at critical moments like when talking to Nurse Joy. Well, that and why it felt like my mental state was...compromised inside, almost as if there was a part of me that was broken, and I couldn't figure out why. It wasn't from the growlithe clawing my face, that much I knew because I could remember that clearly, and just wanting to protect the poor puppy Pokemon from getting beaten anymore by my dad's vaporeon after she saved my ass.

I rubbed my face as I tried to remember why I had such an intense hatred of Rockets, and my vision went red, almost as if all I could see was blood, then it vanished along with the feeling of hatred, yet I knew it was just waiting under the surface, waiting to be triggered. I shook my head realizing there were a lot of memories of both who I once was, and who I am locked away. As I sat there petting my partners I thought about the world and the knowledge I had on it, from Red's memories, not Jason's. As I thought I started to list off the differences in my head.

First, Hermaphrodites made up a good 5% of the population among humans, and 15% among Pokemon. Second, human and Pokemon relationships WERE legal, but it was frowned upon in some regions, including Galar where a church was rising shouting about human supremacy. Third, they were working on a way for humans to crossbreed with their Pokemon lovers, but it was currently in the testing stages, and the lead scientist had disappeared a year ago. Fourth, The ratio of males to females was still 10 to 1, but the ratio of wandering trainers was 100 females to every one male, which lined up with Jason's thoughts, however, the ratio of males with Pokemon related jobs to females with Pokemon related jobs, was a slightly less skewed 50 to one, because a full half of males doing things with Pokemon, were not wandering trainers. Fifth, the elite fours of every region were primarily female, but most of the gym leaders hadn't changed. Though three notable male elite four were my father, Jericho “Hell-hound" Wolf, who had a mostly canine team other than Pokemon used for moving from place to place, and was currently testing the portable transporter built by a coalition of Pokemon professors.

I continued counting them off, getting to the sixth thing, which was that Madame Boss was known to have had two children, the elder a male, the younger a female, both of which disappeared before her death six years ago when my sister started her journey. Seventh, Team Rocket, rather than getting less bold, got even more bold for the first two years after her death, and had nearly conquered Johto before my mother and the other champions stepped in. Eight Johto was a war torn landscape ruled by warlords who held the gyms as symbols of power, and were in negotiations with the league. Ninth, the world was just coming off a war that had nearly devastated the human population, and is part of why women are so much more populous than men, as well as why men were now required to register for the military when they became trainers, unless they were sponsored by a Lab. Finally Tenth, Pokemon were a hell of a lot more intelligent than most believed, and the legendaries were proven to have some sort of deific energy that they emitted wherever they went. Oh and one last thing came to mind, the regions, were not exactly like Jason remembered due to the legendaries getting involved in the damn war before my sister and I were born. So there was that, which led to people realizing that, yes the Legendary Pokemon were deities at least in strength, albeit not as strong as Arceus.

I heard footsteps approaching as I pulled myself out of my introspection, without getting to my personal memories, as aggravating as that was, and looked up to see Nurse Joy walking up. She studied me and said “You seemed lost in thought Mister Okami, care to tell me what is going through your mind?"

I shrugged and said “Not really, ma'am. However, if you must know, I was just thinking on key facts of our world, and how strange they are. Like the fact that after the last war, male births dropped in both Pokemon and humans, yet Hermaphroditic births rose in both groups of beings, and it turned out even rock, steel, and ghost type Pokemon can give birth through mothering. Man was that a weird paper to read on the professor's desk, not so much for the steel types since many of them have animal characteristics, but definitely was for the ghosts and rocks." She nodded in understanding to that and motioned for me to go on, seeing that there was more weighing on me than I was stating. I sighed and said, “When I blew the holes in the roof, I sort of, was thinking of Team Rocket and I'm not sure why. I know they signed the accords, even if the boss kept his mother's name on the signature, and most of the Executives, Admins, and Grunts follow it to the letter, but the thought of them attacking the center made me so angry, I had my Pokemon attack thinking they were coming down from the roof. I'm wondering if I should see a psychologist, or a psychic to find out if I have repressed memories."

Nurse Joy studied me and asked “Do you often have episodes when you think of Team Rocket, like right now for instance, or is it only when you believe they are going to do something that endangers others?" I hummed in thought and held up two fingers saying it was the second. She nodded slowly and said “Then, I believe you'll be fine should you not see them in the process of attacking anyone. If you start having episodes like you say you had today, more often, then I would recommend seeing a league contracted Psychologist about what is going on in your mind." I nodded in thanks and she said “Now mind you, that is just my opinion, but I'm more a Pokemon nurse than a human psychologist. Also I cannot force you to see a psychologist, nor can anyone, unless it endangers others and would worsen the league's reputation or you have at least one badge and fail a regular yearly psych evaluation. So, I think you're fine for now, but again, that's just my less educated, not uneducated, but less educated opinion."

I nodded and said “Thanks Nurse Joy. Also I can wire over the money for the repairs as soon as you connect us back to the net, and let the officer Jenny's that everything is in the all clear now." She smiled slightly at that and patted my head, making me smile slightly as she walked over to her computer and set everything up, while I pulled up my bank account on my porygon phone, using my fingerprint to log in, and waited for her to tell me the Center's information. She smiled and read off the numbers, which I quickly put in, and transferred the required amount, which was a whopping 10,000,000 pokedollars, and was very thankful I had a stipend from both my job, and parents up to this point. As my bank account was now down to 500,000 pokedollars, meaning most of my life's savings went to pay for the center's repairs, and probably upgrades. I wasn't going to complain though, because I knew it was going to a good cause, and I could probably make it back with research, and of course trainer battles. I mean, you could make a few thousand dollars for beating a gym leader, and since I was male and thus enrolled in the military, even as a lab trainer, it's just I was part of Oak's unit rather than regular military, I got a stipend from that.

Nurse Joy smiled at me and say “The Viridian Pokemon Center thanks you for your donation, and here are those books I mentioned that breeder's need to study, since you technically went above and beyond, even if you damaged my roof." I smiled and took the books, then walked back to my room, with my partner's sitting on my shoulders, which I was, ironically enough, getting used to their weight, though how a charmander could weigh over 100 pounds was beyond me, and put the books in my bag, before grabbing it and walking back to the waiting area and sitting on the couches. I noticed the girls were in the lobby, laughing with Nurse Joy about my “paranoia," though the laughter didn't really reach any of their eyes. After all, a paranoid trainer could make mistakes that could seriously harm the average person if they had their team attack them.

I knew the girls were trying to assure Nurse Joy I wouldn't have a psychotic break, and she was agreeing because, I did have a good idea, even if I'd forgotten eh accords, as well as the fact I payed 10 million pokedollars, she wasn't exactly going to ban me from the center. However, I knew she'd probably look into the dark part of my file, which I wasn't even allowed to look at according to both the porygon in both my phone and Pokedex. Porygon assured me that they would alert the people around me if I showed any signs of a psychotic break, including, but not limited to, elevated heart rate, blown pupils when looking into either object, and increased brain activity because apparently my Pokedex was hooked up to my vitals, who knew?

Well, I kinda did, as I was the one who recommended the professor combine the Pokedex with the Xtransceiver, and the two combined with my phone, would allow medical professionals to keep track of any damage done to a trainer's body. despite one of the devices being inoperable. I leaned back in my seat on the couch as the girl's walked over and Cleo, cause I didn't feel like using her actual nickname right now, said “Red, I mean Jake, you're eyes are glowing red again. What the hell has your boxers in a bunch?" I sighed and explained about how I had a “Rocket" button now, and they said that it'd been the case for years. When I started to ask about it Cleo held up a hand and said “Red, we promised your parents we wouldn't tell you anything until you naturally overcame the mental blocks placed by your dad's espeon. Just know, you're not going insane any time soon, and the episodes will pass, but the thought of Team Rocket in particular breaking the accords will set you off due to trauma."

I nodded and Blue asked “You ok, big guy?" I nodded and she said “Good, we don't want to lose you any time soon. Also, why the hell didn't you wake us up if you thought Rockets were attacking? You know we'd have stood beside you without a second thought if those bastard's had broken the accords like Madame Boss did all those years ago." I started to wonder about that myself, It honestly made no sense for me to leave two trainers who could have helped me and Nurse Joy out, locked in their rooms, especially when Jesse and James said it was a simple electrical lock and the idea that the Center was on lock down keeping the girls trapped. Then I realized that to me, at the time, I hadn't thought they were trapped, so much as the first thought that came to me was 'The girls should sleep through the night, which means that they're safe from whatever the fuck threat this was.' I couldn't help but wonder why, when Blue snapped her fingers and said “Shit, right your trauma kinda instilled a self sacrificing heroic side in you, but part of why you always pretend to be lazy, is because you know people underestimate the lazy guy sleeping in the middle of the room, or they go to deal with him/her first and give the 'sleeping victim,' if they're actually awake, a perfect chance to ruin their plans. I forgot Grandpa said you were cultivating an image as a troublemaker and lazy bum for more than just the fact you didn't want to be associated with Lady Akane, and Sir Jericho."

I sighed realizing that I didn't even know myself as well as I thought. I shrugged slightly and said “Yeah, I didn't want to hurt you girls in my paranoia, nor did I want the “Rockets" to hurt you two." Cleo squealed and hugged me saying something about the big guy was too nice, while Blue studied me carefully and I said, “Worried about why I kept you two locked up?" She nodded and I said “Just was more worried about the electrical system than you two, if I'd thought about you two being awake, I'd have gladly let you out, but didn't think about it after my “attack," and didn't get to you before the nurse after she handed me my books." They raised an eyebrow and I said “Payment for my 'Mission,' but really a trade for paying for the damages." The girls nodded at that in understanding with pitying looks on their faces, knowing just how heavy a toll the nurse had taken on my wallet, and patted my shoulders sympathetically. I almost wanted to cry at their pitying looks, but I just sighed and said “Ah well, 10 million to pay for damages to a Pokemon center of all things, is pretty cheap, especially if Professor Oak is to be believed about the original league."

Blue laughed at that and said “True, Grandpa did say the original league fined him pretty heavily the first time he destroyed a Pokemon Center, even if he was taking on an enemy warlord." I started to reply when a redheaded girl walked out of the female dorms looking tired and Blue said “Ah, sleeping beauty has finally woken up. I thought Cleo and I were bad, but for fuck's sake, that girl slept through both your attacks, and a few lightning strikes near the center. Hell she still looks rather tired, wonder what took her from upbeat while fishing, to her current state." I merely shrugged in response and she said “I swear she looks like the Cerulean City Gym's main battling leader." I shrugged again, not sure if it was Misty or not, and if so it was none of our business what she was doing here. Blue seemed to know what I thinking, because she just pouted at me while Cleo continued to hug me and had actually climbed into my lap, which with her short 5'1 height, and slim build, yeah she fit in my lap perfectly.

I hummed softly and said “I got about four hours until morning breaks, and the dawn rises then I'm heading back to Pallet. Like I said yesterday, I'll meet you two in Pewter in a day or two, cause I'm honestly not camping out in Viridian Forest with the damn beedrill nests in it." Green shivered at the reminder of the fact the forest was full of beedrill, especially because she'd been attacked by a few as a little girl, and it had only been her mom's starter typhlosion, cause Green's birth mother Cyla Green, was from Johto originally, that led to her not being poisoned by the damn bugs. I stroked her hair gently and said “Don't worry Green, the local Pokemon rangers usually have warnings about the beedrill's territorial boundaries,, and generally walk through the forest making sure no one destroys the ecosystem and pisses off the local Pokemon." She nodded into my chest, remembering me telling her that once before and I glanced at Blue then said “You two can catch a few Pokemon along the way, but try to be out by nightfall, alright?"

Blue snorted and said “I know, Red. I wouldn't force Green to stay in that stupid forest when beedrill and their previous evolutionary forms have a damn nest. I'm not an idiot, and Green stop clinging to Red, we haven't even entered the forest yet, Arceus above girl. Why do you always cling to him since your attack by the beedrill?"

Green sighed and got off my lap then said “Blue, you know he almost died for me, then the incident involving him happened a week later. I thought it was my fault that it happened to him, no matter what the adults said, you believed the same thing when he saved you from those damn tentacool and tentacruel attacked you while we were swimming that same week. It was almost someone or something was testing the kids of pallet, yet Red always got in their way." I blinked confused and started thinking back on all those incidents while the girls had changed topics to what they should get at the Pokemart. I realized that a lot of the girls in town when we were kids, especially those too young to even think about being trainers, had been attacked by “wild" Pokemon and I'd ended up helping them out. In most cases the Pokemon gave up after a little bit of aggression from me, but in a few cases, like Blue's, Greens, and two or three other girls the Pokemon actually were relentless until I and the adults stepped in.

In Green's case, it was the aforementioned beedrill, and in Blue's case the tentacool and tentacruel pod, but in the other three girls' cases, well they were, a heard of ponyta attacking the local rancher's daughter, a herd that the family's own herd avoided for some reason, in the case of the scar on my cheek, a young girl who everyone thought could talk to Pokemon was playing with the growlithe when I defended her and got scratched before vaporeon kicked its ass, and the fifth and final girl was the local doctor's daughter, who had a way with plant type Pokemon, and yet was nearly poisoned by a vileplume while picking herbs, only for me to be helping her out for some pocket money, and prevent it. I think in each case I'd ended up sick or hurt afterward. With the vileplume and beedrill I ended up poisoned, though worse from the vileplume cause it left me bed ridden for three days, while with the growlithe I now had a physical scar on my face, and the ponyta herd had left a few burn scars on my back from covering the girl before her father, her family's herd, and my parents chased off the wild herd. Finally, with Blue's tentacool and tentacruel problem, I ended up being sick for two days with a high fever after nearly drowning while trying to protect Blue from the tentacool and ending up pulled under by the tentacruel.

After all those incidents, Mom, Dad, and Professor Oak all demanded an increased ranger presence around Pallet Town to ward off wild Pokemon that were acting weird, then my memory has a blank until my birthday six months later, at the start of November where everything starts as normal, just with the younger me thinking “I need to get stronger and protect everyone, but if I show I'm getting stronger my enemies will be prepared. I hate to do it, but I have to cut contact with the girls as much as possible, and act like something I'm not." Hell even the part of me that comes from Jason, makes me want to wretch at the idea of being somebody I'm not. Like my very nature rejects acting like a waste of space, yet I don't feel that aversion as much anymore, rather I felt and still feel freeing to be my real self for once. Anyway after remembering the incidents I noticed Green was snapping in front of my face and she asked “You ok, Red? You were spacing out so much you ignored the two of talking about those three younger girls who we used to hang out with. The one asked us to pass on her well wishes, but with how you'd been avoiding them like the plague since the incident, we both thought it best not to bring them up."

I hummed in thought and asked “Krystal, the girl who had a cousin named Lyra in Johto, her family moved their ranch there after the incident, right?" The girls nodded and I said “Ok, what about the doctor's family, and the little girl who seemed to understand pokespeech?" The girls blinked surprised that I would ask and started to trade a silent conversation through looks making me sigh and say “Look, I'm not going to have a relapse over Violet and Yellow's conditions being told to me. Just spit it out, so I can hopefully get more sleep with my team, and check on my incubator in my room." They looked sheepish at my words and sighed softly then looked like they were trying to figure out how to best phrase it.

Finally, Blue just came out and said, “Violet as you called her moved to Paldea with her dad when the new doctor came to town after your incident, and Yellow was the one who asked us to wish you well. She said something about her grandparents taking her to a new town since she said her goodbyes, and you probably don't even remember a few of the other younger kids who we watched over at the summer camp, do you?" I shook my head and she said “Thought so, you broke so many hearts back then with your older brother act. There was little Serena for instance, who moved to Kalos with her mother, Gloria who is probably in deep shit since she wanted to be a trainer and was only visiting from Galar, and well there were a few others, but I think you get the picture because you convinced a lot of young girls, and even a few boys who considered the girls to be their rivals, to actually take the camp seriously. All of them, except Krys who should be getting her Pokedex in a year or two, same with Yellow, and Violet who is going to the trainer school in Paldea, should be getting their starters in about three or four years, I mean the camp was for six year old children, and we were the counselors cause we were what ten?"

I glanced at Green to verify that Blue was right and she said “Eleven actually, so most of them have five years, except the older three who get their partners in 1 year, cause they were 4 when Red had his incident. Man thinking about it, little Yellow is already 15, can't believe she'll start her journey next year, same for Violet and Krys. Red, if you meet them on your part of the journey, cause I know you're traveling all the regions from what your journal said, you better tell them we said hi if you meet them." I nodded and she grinned then poked my cheek and said “Now get some sleep big guy, you look like hell, and the red eye thing always takes a lot out of you. That alongside the fact your team looks beat, and that it's 2 in the morning, means we should all get some more sleep." I nodded and scooped up Pi and Christina before walking back to my room, planning on collapsing in my bed with my partners after checking up on the egg I had with me.

I checked the egg, saw it had a few more days before it would hatch, and collapsed on my bed then passed out for a few hours, or at least that was the plan till someone walked over and started banging on my dorm room's door. I groaned and got up muttering about people not having any common decency and mentally prepared to chew out whoever the fuck was keeping me from sleeping again. I opened the door ready to chew them out, when the girl on the other side shoved her finger in my face and said “Do you know it's a crime to cause damage to a Pokemon Center?" I stared at her with a blank look as she continued “It's even more severe since you used your Pokemon to do so, when there were no threats. Also, how the hell did you know what to do to turn the power back on? Hell, who even are you, and what the hell were you thinking blowing holes in the roof that could have 1. Damaged the structural integrity of the Center, and/or 2. Could have disabled the spacial expansion parameters of the Center causing us all to either be trapped in a pocket dimension, causing the center's outside to be destroyed as the inside expanded, or COULD HAVE KILLED US ALL YOU IDIOT!"

I stared at her and asked “Done?" She nodded taking in a deep breath and I said “Just because I'm a new trainer doesn't mean you can get away with telling tall tales like that. The spacial expansion of Pokemon Centers is directly tied to the distortion world via Giratina's priestesses, primarily Lady Agatha of the elite four, and her teacher. The next flaw in your argument was I had permission from Nurse Joy to use Pokemon attacks in the Center as I believed it was being attacked, which she mot likely told you, so starting off by basically all but saying I committed a crime when all I did was damage the roof, which can be done by a Pokemon not properly sedated, is also blowing things out of proportion."

I took a breath before continuing, “Thirdly your point about Pokemon damaging a Center being a crime is technically flawed, because unless done intentionally, a trainer cannot be held accountable for any damage done to a Pokemon Center by their Pokemon, which since I technically did it intentionally, albeit due to a PTSD induced flashback at the thought of Rockets attacking, I paid out of MY POCKET, not the league's funds, to repair the Center to a total of 10 million pokedollars. All that said, instead of banging on someone's door the moment they go to sleep just to bitch at them, when you yourself were in your room while he was trying to protect the center, REALLY doesn't look good for a gym leader or gym trainer, miss. The fact you know the bylaws about the Centers beyond the accords means you are most likely a gym trainer, or gym leader, trying to scare a newbie who damaged league property, and were either going to try to make me pay for the damages, which I did, or try to scare me straight because you thought I did so on purpose. Either way, it is not your prerogative to scold newbie trainers outside your gym, unless they are purposefully being malicious, which again I was not."

I sighed and said “Look, I'm sorry I'm being short with you, but I'm exhausted. Names Jake, Jake Okami, but my friends call me Red." I held out my right hand for her to shake, ignoring the callouses on my fingers and thumb as I waited for what she'd do with the peace offering I just gave. I'd heard about Misty, and how she had a temper, so I was curious to see how she'd react to being told off, then being given a peace offering, because we were both tired, and she probably thought I was some paranoid, or trouble making kid, who had sent the Center into lock down over an attack that never came.

She sighed and shook my hand saying “I'm Misty Waterflower, Cerulean City Gym Leader, currently on leave."

I nodded as we shook hands and said “Nice to meet you Lady Waterflower of the Cerulean City Gym. I do apologize for the trouble I caused tonight, and my anger but I was trying to go to bed after my PTSD attack, and you banging on my door didn't help either of us."

She blushed at that and said “Yeah, not my best moment. However, in my defense I thought you were one of those hot shot rookies who thought cause they had a starter from Oak they were above the law. I really should have asked for your background from Nurse Joy, and not judged you on the fact you had that girl on your lap when it was obvious she was just worried about you, and remembering something traumatic." I was wondering if every trainer had some sort of trauma, and thought it was pretty likely since when you're on the road, or just in a world full of dangerous creatures that can literally control the forces of nature, you're quite likely to face something that would leave mental scarring.

Misty sighed and continued “I'm sorry for how I acted, my therapist told me I still need to work on my temper, but when Nurse Joy said you damaged the roof, and I saw that girl on your lap, I didn't think you were comforting her, I thought you were trying to get into her skirt." I nodded in understanding, having a feeling that Misty had dealt with a lot of perverted male trainers, especially since her body was more developed than Jason remembered from the games, and instead of a side ponytail, she was letting her hair hang down her back, probably due to being incognito and on break from working at the gym.

I kept my eyes trained on hers while mentally taking stock of her physical differences that I had noticed when I'd first opened my door to her. She was about average height for a woman, about 5 foot 4 inches tall, her hair went down to her mid-back and was an amber color rather than burnt orange, her eyes were a deep sapphire blue, and she had a rather nice figure, hidden behind a loose shirt, that she probably had used for pajamas, and jogger pants. The only reason I knew she had a good figure under it, was that the shirt was a little too loose at the collar, revealing her cleavage, and the pants were too ballooned out at the legs, making me think she needed a larger size jogger pants to account for her waist, hips, and ass.

Misty didn't seem to know what I was thinking as she said “You know, you're not acting like your average teenage boy. At first I thought you would, but your keeping your eyes focused on mine, you're paying attention to my words, and I can tell you actually know the laws a trainer is supposed to follow. Most male junior trainers, and a lot of female trainers too, go out there thinking because they have a Pokemon that means their invincible, then they get slapped by a reality check and quit the league trainer life style, males more so than females because of our bodies having more passive aura even if we aren't descended from Aura Guardians." I nodded, though I had a feeling there was a lot more to the world than just Aura Guardians and Psychics that had powers. Especially if those tentacruel, beedrill, ponyta, and Yellow's power were anything to go by. I was silently wondering if there were certain bloodlines that got along better with certain Pokemon but decided to keep such thoughts to myself. Hell, I could have been wrong, because after the beedrill attacked her, Green was completely avoided by most bug types, to the point even butterfree didn't like being around her. Which was odd, cause butterfree were pretty friendly bug types.

Misty continued talking, stating “So, as an apology for thinking your a scumbag, or the average idiot who gives trainers a bad name, how about I accompany you for a while?" I shrugged and said to do what she wanted, and she asked, “When are you leaving?" I yawned and said “8 o' clock sharp. I'm going to the Pokemart at 7 to get a few tens of pokeballs, then I'm going back to Pallet Town to deliver Professor Oak a package, then coming back here, resting for one more night, before heading to Pewter City. If you want to go with me, we need sleep before we head out, so I'll meet you outside the center at 8, when I wish the girls a farewell, then we'll head to Pallet." She nodded and walked off to the female dorms while I shut my door and looked around my dorm to make sure I'd have everything for when I woke up.

The room was mostly clean, with my dirty clothes in a a plastic bag in my backpack, the TV still undamaged and against the wall opposite the bed, the room's bathroom was closed like I'd left it after my shower, and my partners were on my bed snoozing away. I yawned and just plopped down on the bed fully clothed, since there was no point in getting undressed again in my mind, and finally fell asleep after setting my porygon phone's alarm to wake me at 6:30 a.m. I fell into a deep sleep as soon as my head hit the pillow, not even noticing that my Pokemon had been pretending to be asleep and were watching me carefully, worried about what the future might hold for me, and them.

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My alarm woke me as the morning sun peeked through the window of my room, which was on the east side of the building, and I got up yawning. The girls greeted me with calls of their names and I said “Morning girls, I'll get you breakfast, then I'm going to wash my face, grab a protein bar, and we'll head to the mart before saying farewell to my friends, ok?" They nodded and I got up then poured them each a bowl of Pokemon food, checked on the egg, and finally walked into the bathroom and washed my face. I stared in the mirror wondering what was going to happen in the next few days, and why I had a feeling the girls were going to make me do something I'd hate in the near future. I shook that premonition away figuring it was my imagination, not some psychic foresight, and walked back into the dorm room proper. Pi and Cynthia were just finishing up their breakfasts, so I grabbed a protein bar out of my bag and started eating it while putting the egg back in my backpack, and checking to make sure everything was packed for the trip back to pallet.

While I checked my pack, the girls brought over their food bowls and I wiped them clean then put them in the bag and zipped it close. I put it on my back and said “You two want to ride my shoulders or walk alongside me today?" Pi happily hopped on my shoulder letting out a cute cha, while Christina hopped down onto the floor and waited for me to lead her wherever we were going. I smiled and walked to the door, then opened it, and left the center, handing the keycard for the door to her, before Christina, Pi, and I walked to the Pokemart. I ordered thirty pokeballs, getting three premier balls in the process, and thanked the cashier. They also handed me another package that had come in for Professor Oak, and I thanked them for that as well then walked back to the center, where Green and Blue were just walking outside.

I walked up to the two and smiled then said “Looks like this is where you two's journey truly begins and I finish one last errand before starting mine." They nodded with slight smiles and I said “You haven't seen Miss Waterflower while you were on your way out, have you?"

Blue grinned and said “Misty, as she told us to call her, will be right out. She just has to check in with Nurse Joy, send a message to Gym Leader Giovanni, and probably ask Joy what the hell happened last night." Her grin fell as she sighed and continued “Can't believe you had a damn PTSD attack, and actually put two holes in the Center's roof. At least Nurse Joy was happy with how much you paid, when it would have only been about 100,000 pokedollars to actually fix it, giving ten times that amoutn means that she can do upgrades Giovanni has been putting off for over a year because and I quote 'We don't have the money in the budget, and I'd rather not have the champion thinking that my city's Pokemon Center is out of date.' I mean he's technically not wrong, but now Joy can get better facilities, and probably hire some junior nurses. She can also probably now afford to have interns on sight."

I blinked and said “Huh, guess my 'PTSD,' actually did a good thing, and since Giovanni will see what happened, he might increase the funding period. After all, he's one of the biggest believer in the Accords, even if he was originally someone who argued that the league should have less control over the region."

Blue nodded at that, as did Green. Misty suddenly came out and said “Oh, Red, you actually did wait for me."

I hummed and said “It wasn't quite 8 o' clock Misty, so I figured I could wait. Also my friends said you were basically doing gym leader business. I will never fault someone being late because of work, that said, are you ready to go?" She nodded and I said “Great, I plan to catch a few weaker Pokemon to leave at the ranch and rotate with my heavy hitters as time goes on. Pi and Christina obviously will never be switched out, but I'd like to see if I can get a rattata, spearow, and pidgey. She stared at me confusedly and I explained “The professor asked me to complete his Pokedex like he did my sister before me, and these two." I pointed at Green and Blue who showed her their Pokedex colored like their nicknames and said “I also told my dad I'd have one of every type of Pokemon at least once. So I probably will try to catch the rumored pidgeotto of Viridian forest that supposedly left it's flock, too. Then I'll train them both up, and if either wants to be released I'll let them go."

Misty stared at me and said “You know, you're a weird trainer. Also, I don't mean a weird male trainer, I mean a weird trainer in general." I shrugged and waved my hand in a “yeah get that a lot,' gesture which the girls translated for her. She studied me and asked “So, you won't mind if I feed any bug types that you don't catch, that try to get in my personal bubble, to water types, right?"

I blinked and said “That's an awfully specific request, but sure? I mean water types gotta eat too, and it's a Pokemon eat Pokemon world. Though I'd prefer you at least let me catch them before you let your hatred of them cloud your judgment." She stared at me confused and I said “The look in your eyes is one of hatred, Green looks at beedrill with fear, Blue looks at tentacool with fear, I look at all Pokemon with trust, but you, at the mention of bug types you look like you hate their very existence. Your eyes are actually rather expressive."

She blinked and said “Ok then, and as for your question, yes I hate them. A venomoth tried to fuck with my head when I was a little girl and turn me into an incubator for its eggs, but my mother's family saved me, and I've hated bugs ever since. The damn things are so creepy, with a few exceptions, and the vast majority of them deserve to die."

I blinked and said “Are you working on that with your therapist?" At her nod I sighed and said “Good, because there are probably going to be some young trainers who can only catch bug type Pokemon, and your words may deeply disturb them. Anyway, seems like I was right, all trainers have some kind of mental issue, and it just gets worse the longer we're alive I'm guessing. Would certainly explain why Professor Oak is so quirky." Blue slowly nodded, having to agree that her grandfather was quirky in a way only mental issues could explain. I mean, seriously, who other than a mentally unstable old man has three 10 year old children watching over like thirty 6 year old children each, and leaves them with only two fifteen year old kids who haven't received their partners yet because they're too young, on a ranch full of trainer Pokemon that may or may not try to kill anyone who approaches if they're in a bad mood, and/or they don't know the approaching person? Who but a mentally unstable person would do that?

Anyway tangent over, I smiled at Misty and said “Ready to go?" She nodded and we started along the road with Pi nesting on my shoulder, and Christina walking on my left side while Misty walked on my right. As we walked I asked Misty about what her gym was like. She returned my question by asking if I was taking the gym challenge, and I said guilty as charged.

She smiled slightly and said “While it's wise to do your research before you challenge a gym, asking the gym leader really isn't the best way to do that. So, all I'll say is you'll see when you get to Cerulean City." I snapped and said a monotone drat then smiled slightly and said I couldn't wait. She hummed and asked “Red, I've only known you a little while, but it feels like you are...holding back who you are, why is that?"

I shrugged and said “Cause we're headed to my home town again, and I can't truly be free until I get out into the world. Don't ask me why I feel that way, the reason for it is locked behind psychic shields in my mind strong enough I literally have no memory for a period of three months from the start of the shield to the end. All I know is it has to do with my hatred of the Rockets, and the fact that my eyes occasionally turn red when I'm in stressful situations. Before you ask, no I don't know if they've always done that or it was something from the incident my memory has blocked, and no I don't really worry about it."

She nodded and said “Makes sense, that said, why did you become a Pokemon trainer, beyond the urge to travel?"

I hummed and said “I'll answer that question, if you answer me this one. What attracts you to water types so much? Why do you see them as special compared to other Pokemon? Also is there more to your hatred of bug types than the venomoth that wanted to turn you into an incubator? Answer those three questions, and I'll answer your first one, with another two besides."

She nodded and said “To answer your first question, the thing that attracts me to water type Pokemon, is honestly the fact that when my parents were killed by Rockets, which makes me more than happy to help you tear the organization down if you ever choose to, water Pokemon were the ones who saved me. My sisters were busy running the gym, when not teaching me and spending what little time with me they could. As for what sets them apart? It's their very nature they can be as calm as the sea on a bright and sunny day, or as raging as herd of gyarados during a hurricane. Also, I guess I can answer the bug thing, you know I did start to get over my hatred after the venomoth was taken care of, but after that some asshole used bug types to try to kidnap me two years before I started my journey, and my sisters nearly drowned the bastard. Which, I guess that's why I see water types as a safe port in the storm that is reality. Thanks Red, you made me realize something about myself."

I smiled and said “Glad to help Misty. That said, I now owe you three answers, well four since you added that bit of seeing water types as a safe port in the storm that is our world, so think on your next three questions, while I answer your first one. What made me want to be a trainer besides the freedom? A few things, the first was I'm a legacy trainer, won't tell you who my parents are, and no you can't use your other questions to ask. I'm using a pseudonym for my last name for a reason. The second reason is that I want to explore the world and meet every Pokemon I can. Not just other trainer's Pokemon, but the legendaries, the wild Pokemon of the world, and even Arceus if at all possible. The third reason is, I promised Blue I'd help find her older brother Alex, and I want to see some people I met through my younger years, but most of them are outside the Kanto region, and I've never been one to sit still and wait for others to come to me. The fourth is, there are things about myself I don't know, and I think my journey will let me discover them, or at least give me clues on how to discover them internally. Finally the fifth, the fifth and last reason is that I'm hoping to stop Team Rocket for good. That one I'd like you to keep to yourself, because I know my friends would join up with me if they caught wind of me doing anything to Team Rocket, or really anything more dangerous than working with wild Pokemon. They can be worry warts."

She blinked and nodded then said “Alright, I'll keep that last one to myself. Though, if you do find out who's in charge of Team Rocket, and get the name of the one who killed my parents, I want you to tell me. I want to get a few good hits in, and let my sisters help of course, then we'll hand him or her over to the authorities." I grinned and nodded, then motioned for her to ask her three questions. She hummed in thought and asked “Why is your charmander out of her ball, same with your pikachu? I mean they seem friendly enough, but you'd think as a beginning trainer you'd prefer to keep them balled as often as possible."

I hummed and said “Good choice for your second question, and to answer it, I don't like keeping my team balled if they don't want to be. Christina may eventually go back into hers if she ever feels like it, but I think Pi's ball is defective, because she hated being inside when I first released her and shocked the shit out of me. If I wasn't used to electric types shocking me, I could have been killed, or at the least knocked out for quite a while." She gasped and asked if I was ok causing me to laugh and say “For some reason, after the incident I started training to handle all type of elemental attacks with my parents teams. It hurt like a bitch, but it was worth it if you ask me."

She sighed and nodded then said, “Ok my third question is this, are you currently looking for romance, and depending on your answer, why or why not? Don't say that counts as two questions cause it's one question with two parts." I just laughed at her response as I led her into the tall grass along route one and a rattata jumped out and challenged Christina. I glanced at her and nodded to let her know that I was going to capture the feisty little one and she walked forward accepting the challenge.

I hummed and said “Good question. Can you wait until this battle is over for me to tell you the rest of my answer other than the fact I both am, and am not looking?" She nodded and I called out to Christina “Tire it out and use scratch to weaken it, but otherwise you can do what you think is best Christina. I trust you." She nodded at me and started walking in a circle with the rattata while I watched wearily trying to get a feeling for how the battle flowed, and deciding to do as I said and trust in my partner. Pi seemed to think this was a waste of time as she'd fallen asleep, but was still tightly clinging to my shoulder making me chuckle softly. Christina scratched the rattata then dodged as it tried to tackle her, and used tail whip to make it distracted before scratching it again. I nodded and muttered to myself “So even a weak move like tail whip can distract the opponent."

Christina and the rattata traded blows back and forth, the rattata mainly hitting with its quick attack move, while Christina strictly adhered to my instructions to only use scratch, and other weak moves, rather than her dragon moves. Eventually the rattata was covered in cuts, scrapes, and bruises, while Christina merely had a few bruises where the quick attacks landed. I stretched and said “Good job Christina, I think you can end this now, it was very educational, and I'll catch the feisty little one." She seemed to approve my idea to catch the rat Pokemon if her thumbs up was anything to go by then she actually hit it with one last scratch and I threw a pokeball at it, capturing it. I put a potion to the button of the ball, and sprayed it inside, allowing the mist to seep into the Pokemon through the balls sensors and heal him. Huh, didn't realize it was a male rattata. I figured I'd check his Pokedex entry later and named him Roy, just seemed fitting. After that I turned to Misty and said “Sorry if that battle wasn't really fulfilling for you to watch, I just wanted to see how Christina handled a Pokemon much weaker than her, and wanted to catch little Roy here."

She chuckled and said “It's fine, I'm just surprised you placed so much trust in your charmander, and didn't even issue any real commands beyond the start of the battle."

I hummed and said “Felt like Roy wanted a fair fight, so I had Christina keep herself to his level. That said, I believe I owe you an answer as to why I'm both looking, and not looking for a romantic partner, right?" She nodded and I smiled then said, “Well, I am looking, but not hard, as in I'll accept anyone who is interested in me if we get along well enough. As for why I'm not looking? I'm not going to randomly go up to someone I don't know and flirt with them, or ask them to go out with me. That would just be rude, or at worst creep them out because if they didn't know me, they'd probably think I was some creeper."

She burst out laughing at that and said “Oh my god, you just pegged Brock to a T. He flirts with ever4y pretty girl he meets, I only know him because he's about two years older than me, still single, and hits on my sisters every time he visits the gym. Though I'm starting to think he does it to see if a girl might be interested in his advances, and if she did, he'd probably be his real self which is actually a very caring person." I nodded at that and she continued “Alright, my fourth and final question is, Can I travel with you beyond Cerulean? You seem like a guy I can rely on, and I want to broaden my horizons before becoming the true gym leader of Cerulean, right now I'm a provisional leader, at my own request, and because my sisters are more interested in doing water ballet. They encouraged me to learn more about the world, but at the same time they told me I can come back whenever I want."

I hummed and said “Huh, sounds like they love you a lot." She nodded and waited for my answer to her question. I just grinned and said “Misty, the only one who planned on having you leave during Cerulean, was you. I mean, the moment you and I agreed to be traveling companions, was the moment I figured we were friends and decided you could join me whenever you wanted so long as you didn't turn out to be a colossal bitch. Since you seem like a good person, all I can say is, welcome aboard. Right Christina, Pi?" Pi who'd woken up during our conversation let out a cheer and Christina nodded while watching Misty as if to say 'It'll be fun to challenge her as time goes on.' I stretched and said, “That's that. You, Me, Pi, and Christina will keep traveling together, and we might even get more companions as time goes on. Though if you ever want to leave, just say the word and we'll let you go without a hassle."

She smiled slightly and said “Thanks Red, well looks like Pallet Town's coming in to sigh, you can see Oak's windmill from here." I nodded and said “Bout a twenty minute walk from here." I glanced around trying to see if there were any pidgey or spearow in the tall grass, but all I could see were more rattata. I sighed and muttered “Grasslands all the way up to the forests on the edge of Viridian, and not a damn single flying type Pokemon in the grass on our way here. What the heck is up with that." Misty patted my back while Christina patted my leg, and Pi patted my head all three saying there own version of there, there, it's ok. I groaned and said “You guys aren't helping." Misty giggled and Pi let out a cute pika of laughter while Christina looked a bit down cause she'd been seriously trying to help, unlike the other two. I rubbed her head and said “Thanks for trying to cheer me up, hun."

She let out a cute little char, and the three of us continued to Oak's lab. I had Misty wait outside while I walked in to talk to the professor, and deliver both of his packages. Bell was sitting at the reception desk of the lab, with the blast doors closed behind her and I walked up then asked “Hey, Bell, why's the blast doors closed?" She looked up and squealed whens he saw me then hugged me and I rubbed her back saying “Yes it's me, I brought Oak's packages, but seriously no reason to be so excited it's been a day at most."

Bell released me with a giggle and said “Red, you know I'm always happy to see you. As for why the blast doors are sealing off the lab proper? The professor is currently working with a rather...rambunctious Pokemon that was abandoned by her trainer. He honestly doesn't know what to do with her, because she is throwing a massive tantrum, and he usually let you deal with things like this. So, that said, GET YOUR ASS IN THERE WOLF BOY AND SAVE THE PROFESSOR!" I couldn't help but chuckle at that and motioned for her to open the doors. She smiled and said “Thanks Red, and the professor and I forgot just how much you did around here when you three left."

I chuckled and said “Better learn how to handle my job quick Bell, especially since I'm leaving after I deliver the professor's packages and ask him a few questions. Though I might take the little hellion off the two of you's hands if she bonds with me." Bell gave me a look that said 'You'd do that for us, really?' I nodded and she hugged me tight saying thank you over and over then pushed me toward the blast doors. I sighed and walked through, wishing I hadn't left Christina and Pi with Misty right now, then saw a rather upset bagon crying in the middle of the room and occasionally releasing dragon pulses at the professor. I blinked then slowly turned toward the sky and flipped it off saying aloud “Fuck you Jason, I'm not a dragon type master! Why couldn't it be something else!? Did you do this on purpose, or is there something else at play? Fucking hell."

I walked up and picked up the bagon, cradling her like a human baby and said “It's ok sweetie, it's ok. I won't let the big mean professor hurt you anymore." She looked up at me with watery eyes, and I stroked her skull cap saying, “It's alright. No need to cry. I'm here." She nuzzled into my chest at that still sniffling and I said, “Alright little one, it's alright. I guess there's something about me that just calms you young Pokemon down like nothing else. That said, hey professor, your packages are on the desk." I wasn't kidding when I told him I'd left his packages on his desk, I just hadn't even thought about them when I'd seen the crying bagon. She looked so hurt that I couldn't help but want to comfort her. God damn it, I was like a parent to Pokemon, no wonder they trusted me if they weren't in the mood to kick someone's ass like Christina was.

This one was honestly not trying to hurt the professor, she was just hurting from being abandoned by whatever asshole did so, and wanted comfort, but the professor was shit at that. I'd seen it with Blue, I'd seen it with Alex, and I'd seen it over and over with other Pokemon. Meanwhile Bell seemed to be afraid of dragon types, probably something that happened during my incident caused it, because normally she was as ready to comfort a crying Pokemon as I was. I sighed and said “So, where's her pokeball?"

The professor blinked and said “Pardon?"

I glared at him and said “You couldn't take care of your grandchildren, your daughter and son in law are out of town, and Bell can't handle dragon types. Obviously the little one needs love and comfort, which you two can't provide no matter how much you'd wish you could, and your Pokemon work with the rangers to keep the town safe, so they can't watch over her. So, obviously I'm taking her with me, which officially means I'm almost at the damn six Pokemon limit, fuck."

He blinked and said “I knew you had three, cause of the egg, but when did you catch a fourth Pokemon?"

I sighed and said “On my way back, I caught a male rattata, named him Roy cause he was a fighter." He nodded and I continued “As for my fifth, obviously it's this little girl. Do you think she's going to let the only one who's actually tried to comfort her go? Also, don't expect me to keep coming back and covering whenever you get trouble-making Pokemon, your the damn professor do your job Old Man."

He sighed and said “You're right my boy, but honestly she was an unexpected addition. A young man came to the lab today, said that he couldn't keep hold of such a “worthless" Pokemon, and dropped her off. I couldn't help but be disappointed in him, but trainers have a right to make their own decisions, thus I told him I'd keep her, and she was inconsolable."

I nodded and finished for him, “And because you know crap all about comforting people without some sort of outside influence, or about the grief of losing a loved one to war, you didn't have any idea what to do. Especially cause Bell is terrified of dragon types, and the three of us left yesterday. Seems I got here just in time." He nodded at that and I said “Anything else you needed from me professor, or can I get out of here?"

He smiled and said “Actually I have a prototype I want you to test." I groaned, and realized that he would just say that since he was giving me ANOTHER rare Pokemon, even if he couldn't take care of her properly, I'd have to test his prototype for him. I sighed, and the old coot upon seeing my acceptance, well more resignation, said, “It's a transporter gauntlet that connects to the Pokedex. With me so far?" I nodded and he said “It has a tendency to shock its owner when it transports, so I'll need you to test it, rather than the girls, because you are my only lab trainer with even a slight immunity to electric types, that cans still feel it when shocked." I groaned realizing that yes, this was a blessing and a curse. A blessing in that I was getting a rare Pokemon, and new equipment, a curse in that every time I used the new equipment it was going to shock the fuck out of me, at varying voltages, and the professor knew I'd like to rotate my Pokemon regularly, so even if he hadn't planned to force me to take this thing, drawbacks or now, I'd jump on it.

He smirked and said “Ah I see you realize that you are trapped in this." I nodded sighing and he said “Wonderful my boy, not just hold out your arm, I'll slip on the prototype, make a few minor adjustments, and you can be on your way. Also, I should warn you that this thing will connect to your Pokedex and keep track of when you are in battles, tournaments or any other time having more than six Pokemon on you would cause problems. Or, you know just changing out one of your team members will do it. It will immediately lock the device in either of those situations, and you will have to make due until it unlocks via your porygon Pokedex sending it a message that it can release the locking mechanism on the transporter. I also made it the same color as your gloves so it actually will fit in with your look, aren't I nice?"

I stared and said “So very nice professor. Now I gotta get back on the road, hopefully catch a pidgey or spearow, get back to Viridian, and rest for the night." He nodded and wished me a fond farewell, after registering bagons' pokeball to my Pokedex of course. I groaned as I walked out calling over my shoulder to Bell “See ya around Bell, give the old man hell for me." When I walked out Pi, Christina, and Misty stared at me confused, while Brit, which was short for Brittany, the nickname I was giving my bagon, and eventual salamance, slept in my arms. I sighed and said “We got another team member guys, her name is Brit or Brittany depending on my mood. That said she was abandoned by her trainer, and is now clinging to me, meaning I'll probably be switching out my extra two Pokemon more regularly than you two, her and my eevee. Dear fucking Arceus this isn't going to be fun, and someone somewhere is going to scream favoritism, even though I've now got a higher food bill to worry about, I've got a transporter that malfunctions on my arm, and the professor probably feels I owe him a favor in the future."

Misty stared at me and said “Are you Arceus chosen?" I blinked and stared at her confused. She said “I ask, because your luck is just to strange. You get caught in a rainstorm one day, then the next you end up getting a rare pseudo legendaries beginning evolution, you have a charmander that looks way to strong, and your pikachu knows Thunder, not thunder bolt, or thunder shock, no THUNDER! You're probably wondering how I know, that's because she used it on a meowth that was trying to bother her. Also apparently two people who know you, names are Jesse and James, left a letter with me."

I stared and said “They left a letter? Did this letter come while their meowth was trying to convince Pi to go with them?" She nodded and I groaned then said “Please hand it over." She nodded and handed it to me, then I tore it open. The letter read “Hey twerp, this is a declaration of intent to follow. You seem to be interesting, your pikachu is top notch, and that charmander of yours looks like she'll make a prize Pokemon for the boss. All that said, we were reassigned to follow you by the Boss' top Executive, and as we're mere Admins we couldn't disagree. She also had a sad look when we described you to her, while the boss merely looked pleased you could bond with your Pokemon so well. That said, please don't look for us, you won't find us unless we want to be found.

We Sincerely Look Forward to Stalking You,

Signed, Your Stalkers who will steal your team, Jesse, James, and Meowth. Forever Known as The Team Rocket Trio, or just the Trio to our Colleagues.

P.S. Good luck dealing with Proton, that bastard is a monster.

P.P.S Thanks for not killing us in the Center, the Boss told us that had been a very real possibility if we had actually tried to stand and fight beyond sending out Jesse's ekans.

Final P.P.P.S We'll be watching."

I stared at the letter and said “Who the fuck is a polite enough stalker to tell you they're following you at their boss' instructions? Christina, Pi, make note that the Trio, are going to be stalking us, and probably trying to steal our family members. When that happens, we're going to kick their asses, send them blasting off, and probably get their colleagues killed or arrested, because I do believe they are the only good people in their entire organization."

Pi and Christina nodded, having similar thoughts about the trio because as malicious as they'd seemed, they were awfully polite, and when Pi refused to go with meowth, they'd let it slide, this time. I was honestly confused about who the fuck they actually were, and why they were working for Team Rocket when they weren't really hardened criminals, Pokemon thieves probably, but criminals who did everything it took to get the job done, including murder? I couldn't see it. Misty stared at me and said “Uh, you're not worried about getting a stalker letter?"

I shrugged and answered, “I mean they were very polite in the letter, so why would I care if they stalk me. So long as they don't interfere in my journey I'll think of them as a nuisance trying to steal my Pokemon who I can battle. Also, I didn't read their names, or title aloud, beyond calling them the trio, right?" She nodded and I sighed saying “Good, Because I think this letter would be confiscated if I did read off their names or their title, but honestly I want to tape it on a page in my journal, because this is like the nicest stalker letter someone has probably ever received." Misty stared at me and I said “I'm completely serious, I was honestly not expecting this, but at this point when your stalkers send you a letter telling you that they'll stalk you, that they intend to do you no harm, other than stealing your Pokemon, and that you will not find them, but good luck hunting down their colleagues? That is strange but in a good way. Anyway let's head back to Viridian City, and please don't sing the stupid song."

As I started walking toward the exit of Pallet Town, Misty walked alongside me and said “You're taking this way to well." I shrugged because I couldn't exactly tell her that the Team Rocket Trio were not true villains, more annoyances, and that Jason had been very clear to make that a point to the world seed. I was also curious if I was the Ash of my own story, or if like so many other trainers, I'd cease to be because I died on the road.

As we approached the edge of town a sudden sun shower came down, and I blinked then said “Somewhere a ninetales is preparing for a wedding." Misty looked at me confused and I explained “It's an old myth my mom told me. When it rains on a sunny day, a ninetales is preparing for her wedding because she has chosen a husband or wife. She also said it may be a ninetales proposing to their future husband or wife that caused the sun shower. Always thought that was pretty cool, especially cause it meant that the Pokemon was in love. Oh it's stopping." Misty nodded and I looked up at the sky as the rain disappeared and a Pokemon flew over head.

I stared at it and so did Misty, who asked “Are you SURE you're not the chosen of Arceus?"

I shrugged and said “To my knowledge, no. That said, That's Ho-oh right?" She nodded and I snagged something out of the air on instinct. She glanced at my hand and I opened my palm to reveal a rainbow feather. I blinked tucked it into the inner pocket of my vest saying “Heh, I think my journey is going to be very interesting."

Misty stared at the rainbow wing in my vest and said “Ok, so whether your chosen by Arceus is up for debate, but that was definitely Ho-oh saying you have a pure heart. This is going to be a long adventure, isn't it?" I nodded with a smile and she sighed then said “Why are you such an enigma?"

I grinned and said “It's not really me that's the enigma, as much as the effect I have on the world that is enigmatic. So, I guess all I can say, is, This is where my journey truly begins!" I started running down the road with a laugh with Misty giggling alongside me, both of putting our encounter with Ho-oh out of our minds, even as I slipped my Pokedex back into my pocket alongside the Rainbow Wing. My partners, Christina, Pi, my unnamed eevee who hadn't hatched yet, Brit the bagon, and Roy the rattata, were going to probably be with me every step of the way. I couldn't help but grin as I carried Brit who was snoozing away after her tantrum, while holding Christina's claw with my other hand and Pi st on my shoulder nuzzling my cheek, all the while thinking “This is going to be a great journey."

Sadly, what I didn't know at the time, was that as good a journey as I was going to have, it was going to be fraught with danger, filled with hardship, and it was going to drill into my head just how much I valued my loved ones. I also had no idea that, one day, I would lose some of my precious family. The younger me was naive, but I, I envy that naivete now.