Nyx and Jared were seen moving fast just below the treelines.

(Nyx seems to move much faster since becoming a haunter, looks like I'll be back in bed in less than an hour!)

Jared checked his phones GPS before closing it to conserve power, "You're getting a little off course, Nyx, go left more."

"Hrmph"

Looking off into the blackness, Jared ponders, (I wonder if I'll ever get a chance to learn some training methods. It would be a shame if Bulbasaurs growth was stunted... but, knowledge isn't given out for free, and it takes time to learn... As for Nyx, I doubt anyone knows a good way to train him...)

-(Then again, he's a ball of gas, can he even be trained in other ways? -Strength training isn't going to give him muscle since he has no body to begin with... and even thinking about a muscular haunter gives me shivers...)

-(I don't want to risk trying some training methods for Bulbasaur, because an improper method might bring more harm than good...)

.

Jared could now see the dim lights of civilization from far away.

"Set me down here, Nyx, it's best we don't alarm anyone by floating straight in."

"I want negative energy after this!"

"You just got some, you can wait until the morning!"

Nyx scoffs

.

Jared was back in his room.

Switching off the light, Jared climbs into bed for some shuteye, not forgetting to stick his phone in the charger.

With his head on the pillow, Jared ponders, (Bulbasaur seems to have the will to get stronger, but it Nyx is even more so... -then again, training isn't supposed to be enjoyable, and from what I've seen, negative energy is like an addictive drug to him... -How I wish I could just lie back and casually get stronger by absorbing negative energy...)

zzzz

.

The next day Jared was sitting in Harper's office.

Harper glared, "You showed up, so you DO remember who your boss is!"

"Yes sir..."

Leaning back in his chair, Harper commands, "This assignment came in from HQ, and it will not be refused. While assignments like these are not meant for unproven grunts like you... -and frankly, you are too weak..."

Rudely pointing into Jared's face, Harper continues, "However, you're lucky. In this mission, stealth is required, and I'm told ordinary methods won't do."

Leaning back in his chair, Harper lights up another cigar, while Jared asks, "What are the detail?"

"This is top secret, and not even I know the details."

Puffing out a stream of smoke into Jared's face, Harper smirks, "Here's a word of advice, lunatic, curiosity killed the meowth, -and In this line of work, the less you know, the longer you live. Come back here at nine am tomorrow," Harper's eyes narrow, "And if you are late, then you will regret it, maggot."

Before Jared could leave, Harper spoke again, "Wait a minute lunatic."

"Yes?"

With a sly smile, Harper asked, "I've heard you caught a Bulbasaur, what do you think of selling it to me? I'll give you three thousand credits right now."

"Sorry, he's not for sale."

A vein on Harper's head begins to pulse, Jared knew from this, that he was about to erupt in anger, "Good...Good... you think you can do whatever you want? You think you can get more by selling it to someone else?"

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Seething with anger, Harper cuts Jared off before he could reply, "If I hear you going above my head, and selling it to someone else..." Harper just cackled menacingly.

As if he were shooing away a fly, Harper spat, "Alright, lunatic, now get out of my office, I don't want to see your ugly face anymore"

Leaving Harper's room, Jared's expression darkens, (While I don't mind how he speaks to me, it's still not pleasant. I hope I can rise up the ranks soon... and speaking of ranks, I wonder how Kai is doing as an agent...)

.

Back In the forest, a few hours north of Pallet Town.

"Bulbasaur, on your left!"

Fighting another pack of rattatas, Bulbasaur was struggling.

Hearing his trainer, Bulbasaur leaped out of the way.

A large rattata gritted its teeth, and snarled at Jared.

While the rat pokemon could not understand what the human said, it was a fact that every time the human opened his mouth, his sneak attacks would get foiled.

He wanted to shut that human up, but if he went to deal with the human, then his three underlings would fall into a disadvantage. The Bulbasaur was a tough nut to crack.

Using the same strategy he had used the previous day, Bulbasaur closed his eyes.

The four rattatas looked at each other in confusion, but they wouldn't let this mistake go unpunished.

From the sides, and back, three of the four rattatas prepared to land a fatal blow!

Bulbasaur was impacted from his back, and flew forward, towards the leading rattata.

Filling himself with normal energy, the leader smirked when the human had said nothing to warn Bulbasaur. He had set up this strategy to defeat much tougher foes, and as for a mere Bulbasaur?

With a cunning glint in his eyes, the leader prepared to impact Bulbasaur midair. He knew the forward momentum would greatly compound the damage.

Bulbasaur suddenly opened his eyes!

Unknown to the leader, Bulbasaur had the same idea as him!

Bulbasaur had been charging his body with a tackle since before the impact, and now it was time to see which of them had the sturdier body, and more powerful elemental energy!

.

Bulbasaur and Rattata's energies collided, and the sound was akin to a gong.

As it was his inborn element, normal moves favored the larger rattata, but! the invisible sheen of normal element covering him and Bulbasaur simultaneously shattered, as they negated each other.

The large rattatas eyes went wide!

He was powerful for a rattata, but if he directly pitted his fragile body against a larger Bulbasaur, then he knew the outcome.

There was no time to dodge, as the enormous forward momentum could not be shifted in midair!

Much was said, but this all happened in less than a moment!

As Bulbasaur and Rattata collided, the sheens of normal energy shattered, and the large rattata was knocked away!

Seriously injured, the large rattata lay on the ground while coughing blood from his mouth. His strong vitality would let him recover in the long run, but he could no longer fight!

Bulbasaur may have defeated the most dangerous foe, but in return, he had a bloody bruise on his forehead.

Using his vines, Bulbasaur landed back on the ground, and then he turned around to face the three rattatas.

With a vicious growl, Bulbasaur mocked the three in the pokemon language.

Seeing their leaders defeat, the three cowardly rodents broke rank and ran.

Once they were out of sight, Bulbasaur collapsed on the ground.

He may have gotten the better end of the last exchange, but he had been accumulating small injuries since the beginning of the fight, and now, simply standing was difficult for him.

Nodding in approval, Jared returned Bulbasaur to his pokeball.

"This should be enough for today, have a good rest."

Putting the pokeball on his belt, he Looked at where he thinks Nyx might be, "We are gonna head back to the pokemon center, please scout the way."

From the shadows, Nyx scowled.

.

Pokemon centers were a large organization, and they could afford medicine in bulk. This means the price to heal a pokemon is half as much as just using potions! and they also had other methods of healing not available to the public.

-For example, Potions just by themselves are good, but they deplete a pokemon's stamina. For a grass-type pokemon, prolonged exposure to large amounts of special artificial light could speed up their recovery, and when paired with special food which is designed specifically for them, then they can swiftly recover, and this method would replenish their stamina!

While it was less convenient to come to a pokemon center and wait for his pokemon to be healed, Jared felt the advantages of the pokemon center were still too good to ignore.

.

Waiting near the counter of the large pokemon center, Jared hears his name called.

There was no nurse Joy at the counter, but Jared was impressed by their politeness and professionalism.

Claiming Bulbasaurs Pokeball, Jared released him.

"Bulbaa?"

Looking down, Jared asks, "Feeling better, Bulbasaur?"

Bulbasaur nods solemnly

As they walked out, Jared's mood slightly dipped, (He used to be such a happy little guy... I hope he regains his smile one day... It's a bit saddening to see Bulbasaur looking so forlorn...)

.

Back in his room.

"Bulbasaur, will you at least try it? You can't just eat rice, it's not good for you."

Bulbasaur shook his head, so Jared fakes some anger, " I bought this expensive D grade grass type food just for you! You can't have any more rice until you eat some of it!"

Finally relenting, Bulbasaur takes a single nibble, then looks up at Jared, as if he were saying, *There I did it, now give me my rice!*

Jared: "..."

.

Back in the Rocket Gang building.

Opening the door, Jared was once again in Harper's office.

Jared found it strange that Harper was standing, while this unidentified guest was sitting.

Inspecting the guest, Jared found him to be a man in his forties. He had sharp eyebrows, and he seemed to be brimming with vigor.

In an unusually professional tone, Harper made some introductions, "Let me introduce you to Executive Neil."

Harper then politely gestures to Neil, "Executive Neil this is Jared, he is the grunt that you were asking for."