It didn’t take them long to arrive. On the last stretch Carlos gave the full story of what had happened to him, all 4 men listened quietly. The last couple of miles they were escorted by dragon riders. There was a wide variety. Salamence, Hydreigon and Dragonite he recognized but there was also a green and red bug looking dragon with diamond shaped wings, it looked benign from a distance but it flew close and the aggression in its eyes was palpable. Carlos remained calm. Another Dragon appeared, see through and ethereal, it had a triangular shaped head and it seemed to glide through the air instead of flying. Once they landed Carlos got a good look at the village. It seemed more like a small city but what surprised Carlos the most, was that most of the houses were made of simple materials. Wood, wrapped with straw and straw roofs. The property of each house was quite large often with simple barns which housed sleeping pokemon.
“When it comes to rambunctious dragons, brick or wood makes no difference. The simplistic housing was borne from pragmatic needs. Not everyone can afford TE reinforcements to their house.” Lance saw Carlos look and guessed the surprise look on his face.
”makes sense.”
”Im going back to Violet. Lance! treat your guest well. I will want to hear Oak’s thoughts once he arrives.” with that Walker’s mega Pidgeot took off with a crack of air creating an intense gust. By the time Carlos could open his eyes the Pidgeot was already a mile away.
”pfff show off,” Surge scoffed. “Make that 3 honored guests Lance, me and Koga gonna keep our eye on the young’in.” He smirked, “no offense.”
Lance took a deep breath, other than that he didn’t show anything. “I would advise you to behave Surge, both your deeds in war are well known around these parts, neither of you match well against even the most basic trainer in this village.” For the first time he let a dangerous bone chilling glint, shimmer in his eyes.
Surge rolled his eyes. ”Ooo scary.”
Before Surge could antagonize any further, Koga stomped on his foot and made a short bow to Lance. “We would be honored to stay the night here, young dragon master.”
Lance nodded and motioned for them to follow him. They entered the Pokemon center and Carlos saw 2 nurse joys chatting away, one looked old with greying hair but other than that they were the splitting image of one another. Like a time capsule.
Good evening Lance~ the younger Nurse Joy spotted them when they entered and daintily hopped over. She smiled seductively at Lance. And looked everyone else over. Lance didn’t show any evidence the sugarly seduction was working. “Surge, Koga.” She nodded at the Kantoninans coldly. “Who is the wild one?” She hopped like a little girl towards Carlos and got real close to him. She sniffed him. Carlos felt her eyes were unnatural. They had a pink hue to them.” caught him poaching didn’t you? I can smell the blood of numerous Pokemon on him.”
Carlos had taken a step back uncomfortable with the breach to his personal space. “I have hunted to eat and survive.” He looked at his 3 liaison’s. “Is that considered poaching?” He asked. Koga responded.
”Only if you hunted them in the reserves, dedicated to keep the numbers of native species intact. The Hollow mountain range is technically a Reserve for War survival Pokemon.”
“Great so I did poach, in my defense I had no choice and didn’t know it was considered a reserve. Without TE, neither me or my mon’s would have survived, the TE tree’s and bushes were viciously protected by vegetarian Pokemon.”
”Tsch, they all say something like that.” The Young Nurse joy tsked and gave Carlos a look of contempt.”
Carlos snapped, he was tired and had zero patience left. ”How about you keep your judgemental bullshit to yourself and shut the fuck up? I was gonna ask if you could give my Mon’s a check up but now I wouldn’t put it past you, to come up with some excuse to confiscate them.”
”WHAT!?” The young Nurse yelled loudly. Her face red with rage. Carlos stood defiant her distrustful comment had him fuming, he didn’t know if he could trust this situation.
Surge whistled. “Hot damn you got a mouth boy.”
Lance had gripped the young Nurse preventing her from jumping Carlos. “Let her go Lance.” He leered at her, taunting her, Carlos didn’t even notice he was subconsciously lacing his words with dark TE.
“I’ll show her what true equality looks like in the wild.” Carlos was internationally fuming, a dark rage settled into him. Already he began to look for a way out. Darkness settled into the corner of eyes. Singularly focusing on the young nurse. In the back of his mind he idly wondered why he reacted so strongly.
“ENOUGH! Sit down you!” The Older nurse Joy had walked past her counter and gave the younger Nurse a withering glare. “How many times have I told you not to jump to conclusions and to keep your judgment to yourself, like this savage from the wild so eloquently pointed out!” The young nurse withered and looked down, face completely red and embarrassed. She gave Carlos an ugly look.
“And you.” The old nurse turned to Carlos and stared at him. For a moment her eyes seemed to glow and Carlos’s quickly eroding reasoning, pointed out to him she was more Pokemon than human. Her eyes had that similar alien glint to them. She walked closer, still silent and put her hand on his chest, right where the dark rage was beating and pumping fury. She sighed. “I apologize for the offense. What my foolish student said, was thoughtless and inconsiderate of the struggles you recently faced.” It was odd, her words soothed him but it didn’t feel natural. Regardless it calmed him down. Part of him panicked, whatever she did, felt like a pokemon move but unlike with pokemon his arceus system didn’t give him anything, not even a message that the move was too advanced for identification.
All three of Carlos’s Pokemon materialized, Kong tried shoving the old nurse roughly away. She didn’t stumble but gracefully stepped back avoiding the shove, staying perfectly calm.
Gawain waddled quickly to Carlos and pulled at his pants all worried.
”Uncle why are you acting all weird? Are you ok?”
Carlos let out some gibberish trying to speak. His head lolled from one side to the other. He tried to stand but he swaggered all over. All of a sudden his body felt 5 times heavier. He felt an intense bout of nausea, fever and his head began to pound like mad.
Kong began to fume. “You tricksy aren’t you!?”
Dianne took one glance at Carlos and a cold determination settled in. She formed her shadow clones each of which formed stilettos, hovering, dangerously pointing at the humans present. The young Nurse began to sweat.
The old nurse motioned for Lance, Koga and Surge to stop. “Don’t bring out your Pokemon. I’ve got this handled.” She said.
”What’s going on Nurse? Surge asked gripping a ball in his hand but him and Koga listened for now.
The old nurse smiled warmly at Carlos’s Pokemon. “My my, you three really care for your trainer don’t you?” None of The 3 responded, Dianne started stalking with her clones. Her gaze was stone cold. She looked at the old nurse.
”Poo, explain”. She demanded coldly. Although the nurse didn’t know pokespeech with pokemon she wasn’t familiar with. She was experienced enough to infer the meaning.
“Come sit with me for a moment Carlos.” The old nurse asked. In a weird daze he sat down on a nearby chair. His nausea, headache and fever abated once his TE reinserted itself. He was completely out of it.
”Student, come here and look at this. The young nurse came closer reluctantly. And the old nurse gently moved Carlos’s head and his mated hair to the side and the young nurse gasped, softly whispering: “How is he still alive!?”, Gawain flinched and was back to pulling on Carlos’s pants, squealing his name.
The old nurse whacked the young nurse on the back of her head. “What have I told you about blurting crap like that? This is perfectly treatable now that he is here!” She turned back to Carlos Pokemon while the young nurse was pouting but stayed quiet.
“Your master is terribly injured. I momentarily disabled his TE regeneration. He suffered A complete skull fracture, I estimate 4 months ago, that was healed in a very unorthodox way. He most likely needs quite a bit of medical attention. Prolonged recovery through TE can be devastating for the human body and to the natural growth of young trainers such as himself.”
"His TE must have kept the pain at bay. Tell me, did your master eat just as much, if not more pokemon meat than you three?”
Dianne looked at her two comrades. Gawain nodded frantically “Is he going to be ok!?” Dianne gave him a look of betrayal. Kong observed quietly, deep in thought. Dianne turned her attention back to the old nurse. Old nurse Joy nodded and smiled reassuringly at the 3 Pokemon. “Of course, I don’t need to tell you how strong your trainer is.” Kong puffed his chest in pride and nodded. “But he needs to be scanned by the proper machines so we can help him get better.” She added.
“What happened to you?” The old nurse asked Carlos but Koga jumped in seeing as Carlos was dozing off. He gave them the summary of what Carlos had told them.
“Get a stretcher and you will sit in on the potential surgery and assist me understand?” She pointed at the young nurse. The young nurse nodded. and rushed off. She came back with a stretcher and 2 chansey. “We will now make a scan of your trainer to check what is going on. You can come and watch from the observation lounge but you cannot interfere understood?” She addressed the Pokemon.
“Chan You can trust the old nurse. She might be an old bat but she is the best hew-mon healer this side of the mountain range sii!’
both Chansey chimed simultaneously.
”im not an old bat~” she responded melodically, both the chansey chuckled.
the three musketeers looked at eachother and seemed hesitant.
Gawain was the first who responded, “cynda M-mommy always told me I could trust a chansey’s word. Quill”
Kong shrugged, “works for me. Lead on then.”
Dianne remained silent but disabled her moves and hopped onto Carlos laying on the stretcher, perched on his chest and gave the old nurse a look, daring her, to get her off her trainer.
“Ow my old heart, you silly girl, your trainer is in good hands.” The old nurse cooed like a young girl again, fawning over Dianne’s protectiveness. The young nurse tried to ignore the scene but was blushing up a storm. “C-cute” she stammered.
“If the three of you can wait here for a moment. Check yourselves in and I will be back in ten minutes with an update.” With that Carlos was rushed off on a stretcher, snoring.
”It looked bad, but not that bad.” Surge mumbled and went to a vending machine, punched it and took the drink out. Lance grumbled at that. Surge’s raichu Materialized and did the same thing, but he used a bit of electricity and 3 more drinks came out. The raichu tossed 2 of the drinks to Lance and Koga respectively and plopped down next to his trainer who kicked back in the lounge. Plopping his muddy boots on a nearby coffee table.
Lance grumbled again, something about manners and stood still watching the swinging doors stoically. Surge rolled his eyes and watched Koga use a phone booth. It rang for a bit till the person on the other end answered. “Ah good evening Professor Oak, we have a bit of a situation here in Blackthorne.”
Surge and his Mon zoned out for the rest of the conversation. Surge whispered something into his Raichu’s ear and his Raichu gained a devilish smirk. With his electricity he created a magnetic field and used the edge of his tail to create thin strips of aluminum out of their empty cans that they both rolled into makeshift pins. They took turns, taking potshots at Lance. Lance stoically ignored the snickering of both. One of his Mon’s materialized. A powerful well trained charmeleon who took on the same stoic air of superiority. But in the meantime he flared his tail flame and shot razor thin jets of flame, each time Surge and his Raichu flung a pin, while watching the door with his master. A smirk played on Lance’s face whenever his charmeleon was successfull.
It quickly became a game of tag, where the unwritten rule was that dragon and trainer, werent allowed to move and had to intercept the projectiles launched at them in increasing complex arc’s, eventually the Raichu used his electric abilities as a makeshift magnet.
Ten minutes later the old nurse came back. Her face was indescribable. Something about her demeanor set all three men on edge.
“Master Koga, can you explain to me again how this poor young man, with his Pokemon’s barely at a fighting age, ended up with that injury in the hollow mountains?”
Koga for the first time in a long time shifted uncomfortably. “We told you already?”
“Not the story you are going to tell the public, a story you obviously already called Oak for. The truth.”
“May I ask what it is you found out about his injury that has vexed you so miss Joy?” Lance asked. Concern laced in his tone.
She looked at the young man for a few icy cold moments. “I underestimated the severity of his injury in my assessment. His condition is so utterly ludicrous and baffling I can write a scientific paper on the subject and retire thrice over.” She paused for dramatic effect.
This got everyone’s attention. “Come on woman! Spill it, don’t leave us hanging.” Surge urged impatiently.
“Rai! Raichu!” His Raichu nodded.
The nurse sighed.“He is currently on a blood dialysis to cleanse his body, I estimate he will be out for 2 days.” She took a deep breath. “Initially I assumed someone had used rock TE to mend the bones in order to his body to restore the bone naturally, this is sometimes done by rock trainers, The boy had all the signs of mineral poisoning.”
She took a deep breath and continued.
“Whoever took care of him, had the madly insane idea to turn his entire skull and other parts of his skeletal structure into solid TE rock, probably because his skull was so severely fragmented. We found many skull fragments, luckily all on the outer side of his skull. Those will be naturally expelled over time but were rather indicative of how bad it must have been.”
Surge burst out laughing “holy shit! I never thought saying “thick skull or hard-head was literal!” He thundered a boisterous rumbling laughter from the chest.”
Koga looked at the Nurse with increasing concern and poked Surge, hoping he would shut up. Lance inadvertently moved a bit further away from the old nurse.
”I never heard of such a method to heal, Is that actually feasible?” Lance asked, trying to distract the old nurse Joy while Surge calmed down from his laughter.
“Well im glad, you find it amusing that he has ten times the lethal amount of a dozen minerals and irons in his bloodstream.” She fumed. “To answer your question Lance, no it’s not a feasible method of healing, it shouldn’t even be considered.” She turned to Koga. “You are the perceptive one, he really didn’t look to be in pain at any point? Even with his TE regeneration He should have had debilitating migraine’s, bouts of intense nausea and fevers.”
Koga shook his head. “You saw him nurse, we noticed the scar on his head after our initial clash calmed down.” The nurse popped a vein in her head. “You fought him? Her tone was dangerous.
”He almost overwhelmed me nurse Joy.” Koga defended himself. “He launched an explosive at me and our old instincts kicked in, no one got seriously injured, he rattled my bones a bit but nothing serious.”
”Yea you should have seen it! His kick as fast as a hitmonlee kick! And I’m sure you noticed the TE weapons he carries?” Surge jumped to the defense of his buddy.
”I did. Crudely done but effective.” The nurse responded. “Well you will be happy to know I doubt that he is a runaway agent from any of the teams you trainers keep failing to catch. His Pokemon although young, are incredibly well trained and of sound mind and nature. Although they all seem to suffer from an obsessive attachment issue even the Mankey which is rare for its species. Ive only ever seen this sort of bonding with star children.
“Funny you should mention that”, Lance started.
The nurse nodded knowingly “Ah! I knew it, I must say though, even amongst their number I never saw someone which such ludicrous levels of natural TE and a triple typing to boot.”
“triple?” The 3 men asked simultaneously.
“Ah he must have dark typing, no wonder his Poochyena is so protective of him.” Koga mused.
”That explains his ability for pokespeech. But by arceus, a triple type? Isn’t that like one in a million?” Lance asked.
”1 in 7373 to be exact, amongst the numerous star children of the past, he would be the first.” Nurse Joy chimed in.
“To confirm, we can depend on your discretion Miss Joy?” Koga asked.
”Of course, the boy from the looks of it, has come face to face with danger on multiple occasions in the last four months. He needs rest not just from physical strain but mental strain as well.
His body is fighting the rock to transform it back into bone. The rock was heavily infused with Rock TE which is incompatible with his body. His exceptional TE for his age is the only reason I believe he will make a full recovery.” She sighed. “Well good night gentleman. Me and my student will have to monitor him during the night to make sure he stays stable.” With that she was off. Leaving the 3 men.
”So he has a thicker, harder head than the average smuck?” Surge asked tentatively. “I see your courage returned.” Lance asked smirking.
Surge shrugged. ”Hey it’s never a good idea to antagonize the medic. Affects their bedside manner.”
The outside door of the Pokemon center opened. All three men turned. A middle aged man with an absolute air of authority flanked by a massive Arcanine, Dragonite and an Alakasam entered. His face stoic and tense. “So am I in the right place?”
POV of Oak.
An alarm blared 7 O’clock. Tossing and turning all night unable to get a wink of sleep. The middle aged man threw his blanket to the side, and ripped the curtains open. The autumn sun greeted his weathered face. Some Pokemon activity in his ranch. His Dragonite just came back from it’s morning hunt on mt Hideaway. His Alakazam meditated on the big Monolith rock, positioned in such a way it functioned as a sun dial. His psychic partner had insisted to bring it back from mt Moon. Claiming it functioned as a perfect psychic pole to his own. Oak had to admit, the Alakazam seemed capable of refining his psychic abilities more quickly, whenever he meditated on that Rock.
The constant sharpening of skills at the alpha stage was important for any Pokemon. The tranquility of the scene almost made him forget what day it was.
Memorial day. Oak sighed. By the time he was done sighing he was fully dressed in formal wear and sitting on the big monolith next to his Alakazam.
”Thank you old friend, I don’t know what I would do without you. It’s a heavy day today.”
“You wouldn’t forgive yourself if you missed it.” His Alakazam communicated.
His bonds with his Pokemon was the only thing that gave Oak the strength to get out of his house today. He pulled a picture of his late son and wife. He sighed again. He had been so proud of them that day. Gary and his sister were running around on the property, May was chasing him, dragging a newly pressed suit, yelling he was getting the suit dirty. Gary barely 15 years old was yelling he didn’t want to wear the dusty old suit.
Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.
Samuel was pinching the bridge of his nose, feeling a headache coming on.
“Their hearts are heavy, they both secretly hope their antics will lead to their punishment and subsequent banishment of the event.”
Hearing that, was too much for Samuel, a tear fell down his face. A shadow covered his eyes. “Sometimes I curse my intelligence and how I passed that on to them you know? This burden isn’t theirs to carry. I wish they didn’t have the intelligence to understand this weight.”
His Dragonite perched behind him, gently patting Samuel on his back. His Arcanine was close by curled up at the base. It let out a soft whimper. Oak closed his eyes and by the time he opened them again both May and Gary Oak were staring at each other dumbfounded for a second. They were both immaculately clean and dressed. Not a single fray or fold out of place.
“Gramps! I thought it’s not ok for a Pokemon to use a move on us without our consent!?” They both yelled in unison. By the time they were finished their grandfather Professor Samuel Oak was standing in front of them, radiating authority and a stiff upper lip. “They are not allowed to use moves without the consent of their trainers.
In order to keep you two numbskulls in line I have allowed him a lot more than simple acts of getting you dressed and cleaned.” He spoke calm and with a reasonable tone of voice. To an outsider that is, both brother and sister heard the subtle tone, a hint of inflection there, a baritone note carried half a second longer. They knew they were in trouble. “Approach.” His voice brooked no complaints and they both did as they were told, heads downcast. Oak and pulled them in for a hug. They both stammered. “W-what’s going on?”
Oak grinned. “It’s our annual hug, I don’t feel like going either, looking at all those glum faces all depressed. But you have to show your respect to your parents. I understand that our family name comes with… expectations but I want you to focus on greeting and paying respects to your parents. Let grandpa worry about all the Ekan’s and Sevipers ok?
”Is that stupid guy ash going to be there?” Gary asked.
Of course Gary, but why worry about him? when it’s his Mom we should be worried about?”
May gave her grandfather a side long glance.
Samuel felt a headache coming on again. “Ow Arceus save me of these children! May I have been over this. Delia is the daughter in law of my childhood friend. I see her as a daughter. Nothing is ever going to happen between the two of us.”
May scoffed. “It’s not you I don’t trust, it’s Delia I don’t trust, you’re a man, you can’t see how she’s playing and manipulating you with her sad looks and. Ouch!” She rubbed her forehead. “What was that for!?”
Samuel had flicked her. “Do not speak ill of Delia, quite frankly you could learn a thing or two about decorum and perseverance from her. No one in this village has lost as much as her. She lost her entire family, her husband and his family in the war. I told you this many times, Delia is the last person on this planet that would, manipulate someone with her tears. Do you have any idea how often Alakazam tells me she’s in a secluded spot watching her family photos crying?” May looked down dejectedly. “I’m sorry grandpa.”
Samuel nodded, “you should be. Think well on your words and better yourself. You are only half a year out from your journey. You are an Oak. A daughter of a proud and strong family and tribe, you hear?
“Yeah you should be sorry! And sorry for chasing me.” Gary chimed in. Before May could explode Samuel jumped in. “Silence Gary!” He raised his voice ever so slightly. “You are no better than your sister. Do not bully Ash today, you understand? You may think he will be a terrible trainer and his grades might be worse than yours but he is right behind you. The Ketchum’s are also a strong family.”
Gary rolled his eyes and looked away defiantly. Unwilling to concede. Samuel sighed and stepped back. “Time to go.” He had barely finished and they were at the memorial hall. Alakazam waved them goodbye and disappeared.
“How will we get back?” Gary asked. “Alakazam will know when, don’t worry, nothing in this town happens without him knowing.” Samuel responded and straightened his back. Walking into the building his grandchildren in tow. He mentally prepared himself to give cordial smiles and handshakes. Quite a few trainers from far and wide attended the memorial. Nine memorials were held in Kanto. One in each Mayor city with a Gym and here in Pallet town. Technically a tenth memorial was held on the indigo plateau but that was considered neutral grounds by both Kantonians and Jothonians.
Pallet town was a small town, unremarkable on its own on the surface. But in the Pokemon circles, the town had an air of mystique. Multiple powerful family lines siring Pokemon trainers, professors and researchers all came from Pallet town, each generation had contributed something revolutionary to the sciences or understanding or discovery of new Pokemon. The Ketchum’s and the Oak’s the most prominent. Or as someone once had jokingly called them; red and blue. Referencing the family crests of each family.
The war had hit Pallet town harder than most due to the scope of how many men and women had been involved. The population of pallet town was an odd mix of many children, most of them orphaned and elderly people scrambling to take care of them. The only silver lining was that most of these children got closer and closer to their 18th birthday and go on their journey, their rite of passage into adulthood.
As they entered Samuel was caught of guard.
Delia was standing right there in the hallway. Next to her was Ashe. 15 years old still not hitting his growth spurt. Both stood awkwardly, not really knowing what to do. Her Mimey was standing next to her, holding her purse. All smiles to other people streaming in. May started scoffing and Samuel caught her eyes and gave her a smile and stared her down.
It didn’t take long for May to figure out what that smile meant and she shook her head. Samuel nodded ever so slightly. She sighed and knew she was defeated. She Approached Delia from behind.
“Good morning Miss Ketchum how are you today?” Samual noted, to May’s credit, that she really did try her best. Delia turned around and was all big smiles to May and gave her a big hug, making everything super awkward for May. Ash with his typical obliviousness said hi too. Creating a moment for Oak and Gary. Oak gave May the, ‘I told you so’ look.
”What’s all this about gramps?”
“Remember my: boys are like Houndooms and girls are like Persians, talk?”
“Both need different types of training?” Gary asked.
”In a Greedent’s nuttshell.” Oak responded.
Gary nodded. “May does have quite the Persian claws. A lot of her friends have them too.”
Oak sighed. “You are too perceptive and smart for your own good. You should be blind to the flaws of women a bit longer.”
“Pff like Ash? That moron is gonna get himself tied up in one scam after the next, I refuse to fall for that. I can’t afford it as a trainer.”
Oak was about to respond but Delia and a blushing May walked over. Gary and Ash gave each other a curt greeting. Both had obviously been told to behave.
Samuel put his best smile on for Delia. She looked so vulnerable and he would be lying to himself that it didn’t trigger his need to protect her. She was a drop dead gorgeous and kind woman, any man would be lucky to have her. But he was Samuel Oak. He would never tarnish the relationship between the two families, he would never forgive himself if he did. He channeled all of his emotional outbursts of seeing Delia, into his fatherly instincts. He felt satisfaction at his own discipline. The way it should be.
“shall we get seated?” He asked the group. “It’s going to be a long day and I was hoping to find a discreet spot, making it difficult for all the bootlickers attending.”
“Why would anyone lick your boots? Today of all things?” Ash asked dumbfounded.
”Do you really not know what a bootlicker is Ashe?” Gary groaned and shook his head in disbelief.
“I know what a bootlicker is! That’s not what I was asking! Ashe yelled.
May groaned and sighed. “Boys”
Samuel wanted to intervene but a creaky voice spoke up from behind him.
”Disrespectful conduct on the eve of remembrance of the dead, is a sure way of becoming a Yamask.” The old hag cackled.
“Greetings Agatha. I was wondering why the temperature dropped.” He eyed her shadow and he subtly perked his eyebrow. “Really? Three?”
Agatha gruffled another banshee hackle. “Well you know me old fart, I can’t say no to my 3 cutie patooties.” Two Gengar’s raised from her shadows and one shaped itself into a ghostly chair, eyeing the group with his toothy smile, in its own shadow. The other shaped itself as a cane with his head bobbed into her hand, she cooed like a witch while scratching both. “Ah thank you dears.” Agatha cooed. “These old bones don’t do well with walking. Tata dear Oak. I hope you choke~ ho ho ho~” she laughed at her own poetry joke and floated off on her chair into the reception hall. Pallet towns new Mayor scrambled to the side, making way.
Delia gave a nervous bow to the passing elite, completely out of her element. Oak felt a pang of rage. He held Agatha in contempt. He had strong suspicions she was part of the underground organization that had caused so much grief. But he had no evidence. He almost considered hanging up his science coat and investigate, almost.
“You got to forgive the old dame, she’s losing a few screws in her old age.” A charming voice rang out followed by the soft purring of a Persian. Oak gave the man following in Agatha’s wake, a respectful nod. “Giovanni, what a pleasant surprise, we are honored by your presence, hero.
”O none of that professor, team effort and all, besides we all know it was your actions that led to the catalyst of a cease fire and peace.” There was an interesting cadence to the last word Giovanni spoke, Oak wondered what he tried to imply.
Oak smiled, “like you said yourself, team effort.”
Giovanni smiled amiably and bowed to the group. “Good day, I will see you all at the ceremony.”
Gary watched Giovanni walk away. “Was that a Houndoom or a Persian?” He muttered, he glanced at his grandpa.
Oak and the group walked towards their seats. Oak noted half the town was gathering in the memorial hall. The rest was outside on the square.
”That was a Persian Gary. How can you not see that?” Ashe huffed arrogantly. pulling up his nose.
“Careful voicing your observations Gary, careful.” Oak whispered quietly only for Gary to hear. He gave Gary a look and Gary saw and understood. Oak spoke up. “Yes Ashe, I do believe that is indeed a Persian,” he gave Gary another look and Gary nodded in understanding. can you name all the abilities recorded for the Persian line?”
Ashe didn’t realize what just happened and happily began to list off all the abilities from the top of his head.
“great you can recite abilities that a 5 year old should know.” Gary said agitated hearing Ashe’s voice.
”Ow yeah? I doubt you could have named them all!” Ashe grumbled.
Gary grinned. “I will do you one better, can you name Giovanni’s Persian abilities by observation? I will concede that you are the better trainer if you can accurately guess its 3 abilities and its hidden ability. You have till the end of the ceremony and 3 total guesses.”
”You’re on!”
The group sat down on their chairs.
”It is considered bad decorum and improper, trying to analyze another trainer’s Pokemon abilities during public events”
Giovanni had sat down, close enough to eavesdrop. His Persian lounged on the chair next to him and gave the group a soft growl and smug look before turning its head. It’s fur meticulously groomed. It’s muscles rippling under its skin. Not an ounce of fat in sight.
Both the boys turned to Samuel Oak, Samuel nodded in confirmation. Giovanni smiled amiably. “If Professor Oak agrees to a small 5 minute talk, I might be ok with it, who am I to stand in the way of the growth of the future generation?”
He gave Oak a sidelong glance. Both boys looked at Oak and Giovanni, I can’t make any garantuees but 5 minutes is something I can definitely do.” Oak looked at the boys and smiled. “Seems you boys have a contest, but you are both banished from talking or making any sounds during the ceremony you hear? If you break those rules you automatically forfeit and the other will be called the best trainer of Pallet town henceforth.”
They both nodded vigorously their competitive nature flared.” Delia gave Oak a look, obviously this wasn’t why they were here, Oak simply shrugged, what can you do? Delia giggled at that.
Oak was relieved all the other out of town guests waited till after the ceremony. However he made no delusions that they would approach during the reception.
He perked his eyebrow seeing Pryce sit with his prized Grand daughter, Lorelai, the second whisperer of Johto. The first, Lance wasn’t present but Oak knew Lance was patrolling the Hollow mountain range, he felt bad for the boy but his training among the ranger corps was a necessary step for him.
Pryce was seated at the other end of the ceremony hall. Pryce the old icy man gave him a curt nod that Oak returned. Oak sighed. More negotiations about the league, no one wanted to agree beyond the network of the gyms and their purpose.
Although the groundwork for the leagues had all been laid and pre-existed the war, the extensive involvement of the star children gave it too much baggage, too many star children had touched it. Oak sighed, marveling at the irony and hypocrisy. The Joy and Jenny clan were known to be the descendants of star children. How exactly, was a closely guarded secret of both clans but all the daughters of a Jenny or Joy, where the splitting image of their mothers. He himself had star child blood running through his veins. Him and his professor’s from across the globe had traced back and linked at least 20% of the current population to have some lineage of a star child mixed in.
His work was respected, revered even. Yet anything a first generation star-child had proposed and put forth, shunned and rejected, even if the science behind was sound.
Before Oak even realized the ceremony was over. Shaking hand with people who were only here to network, at least they had a modicum of respect, lest Oak would reject them all. His mind was distant and he felt some amusement when he saw his grandson sweat bullets. Ashe correctly guessed the Persian’s abilities, but fumbled it’s hidden ability, an ability, Gary guessed right on his third try. Both the boys got into an argument going back and forth. May shook her head and guided them away, they weren’t required to attend the reception.
”Ashe is quite the talent Delia,” he smiled warmly to the gorgeous woman. She reminded him of that variant of a rose without thorns. Delia nodded. She sighed a bit.
“He is the splitting image of his grandfather.” Oak lamented how young Delia must have been when Reid disappeared without a trace on Mt Silver. Only to lose her husband and practically her whole family during the war.
”Rather promising youth, but one could almost expect that from the Oak and Ketchum line, a real tragedy that both lines must start all over.
Oak looked at Giovanni. A look that was perfectly normal, a sad smile on his face, which was perfectly normal. A tear on Delia’s face, perfectly normal. Giovanni with his damned amiable behavior handing Delia a handkerchief, perfectly normal. Until Giovanni caught Oak’s gaze.
Giovanni was frozen in place, his Persian flinched and took a tentative step back and growled at its master to do the same. Giovanni however, put on an air as if he was unperturbed and smiled.
Oak snapped out of it, not wanting to worry Delia and took a deep breath and exhaled. “Giovanni I am a man of my word I will give you 5 minutes of my time but not today, today I wish, no I need to reflect, pay my respects and spend some time with my grandchildren and the villagers of this town. The next time I see you, I will give you ten. Deal?”
Oak extended his hand and Giovanni smirked and shook his hands. “Deal, remember Professor, I am a man who collects his debts with interest.”
Oak’s glare, got a dangerous glint, so did his smile. “So I’ve heard.”
Something dawned with Giovanni, his smile fell. “Well, I will leave you to it professor,” he turned to Delia. And gave a small bow, “miss Delia.” Delia bowed back, wiping her tears away. With that he turned around and walked off. Oak felt he had done enough socializing. “Come my dear, let’s find those boys before they embark on their journey prematurely, again.” Delia giggled as Oak extended his arm to her.
”what did I ever do to deserve all you do, for me and Ashe?” She asked with a bit of mirth. It did Oak a lot of good to see that.
”When you married Reid’s Son, well I don’t think I ever saw the man so proud, so happy. That foolish son of his included.”
Delia blushed a bit. “All I did was love and marry him.”
“Heh, I think you were the only one who could see past all the flaws of that man.”
They were quiet as they walked back to town, Alakazam notified him of the boys antic’s breaking into his lab and trying to find a starter Pokemon. “I think I have to get the boys started on their bonding with their first a bit early.” Delia looked with a bit of confusion, her Mr mime chimed in and a light in her head turned on and she groaned. “Are they breaking into your lab again?” Oak smiled, “Yes but to be honest I already prepared the lab for their break-in last night.”
“I might as well give their journey a bit of a push in the right direction. Both of them have incredible aptitude.” Delia smiled. “You don’t have to do that you know? For Ashe?” She said softly, “Nonsense it’s the least I can do. There are two other boys I got my eyes on that I will recommend for the starter Pokemon program.” Delia was confused. “But there are only 3 Kanto starters?”
Oak pulled out his custom pokedex and pulled up a live video of the lab. Ashe was trying to get closer to a Pikachu who kept zapping him, while Gary stood by with a Squirtle laughing each time Ashe failed.
“Is that safe!?” Delia exclaimed. “Very safe Delia. It’s also ironically necessary when training an Electric pokemon. The human Body needs to acclimate, to the moves of the Pokemon they train. Besides don’t you recognize that Pikachu from somewhere?”
Delia grabbed the pokedex and furrowed her brow observing the pikachu. Zooming in on the yellow rodent. “It’s quite small for a pikachu. A forced Evolution?” Delia didn’t wait for an answer and kept talking out loud and Oak stayed silent wanting her to reach her own realization. “It must have happened in the wild, now why does he look so familiar. Those stripes, were did I…?”
Delia stopped in her tracks and looked at Oak stunned, “It can’t be!” Oak gently took his pokedex back fearful Delia’s grip would warp the delicate hardware.
He answered playfully. ”Well that Pikachu proves your Thesis wrong. He wandered in a month ago and decided to stay all on his own.”
“I thought you said that Clancy would have struggle finding a mate that would be compatible with his size?”
Small reminder, Clancy was Reid’s Pikachu
Oak Shrugged. “It could have happened with a younger newly evolved Ampharos. They share an egg group. What matters is that fate walked through my door a month ago. And by the looks of it, although your son’s approach to the Pikachu is horribly wrong, he somehow managed to peak the interest of the Pikachu. Observe how the Pikachu only does the very minimal output holding Ashe off? He isn’t rejecting him or it would have knocked the boy unconscious. He’s teasing him.”
Delia looked again as Oak rewound the footage. She flinched each time and gave Oak a reproachful look, “my poor boy is smoking from all the static discharge.”
Oak shrugged helplessly feeling like he got put in his place. “Yet he doesn’t quit.”
Delia scoffed, “of course he doesn’t, he’s the splitting image of his grandfather.”
“Don’t worry Delia all my Pokemon are on standby to jump in if it goes too far.”
She sighed and relaxed her shoulders, letting Oak know she might have her reservations but trusted him enough.
”Dinner.”
“What?” His mind drew a blank.
“Dinner at my place each Wednesday and you will bring both your grandchildren.”
”B-but, Delia that isn’t necessary I’m perfectly fine doing this for your son.”
”Nonsense”, she moved in closer pressing herself into him, causing him to struggle with his breath, “it’s the least I can do.” She gripped his arm and began to walk, dragging him along.
“Delia, May is already.. my age.. I mean…” She pressed a finger on his lips. Her eyes glimmered. Her breathing was rapid for a hot few seconds. “We both mourned for a decade and a half. It’s time we both moved on.” Oak began to stammer, she added. “Slowly of course.” He relaxed and they continued to Delia’s house. “I always enjoyed your cooking.” Delia chuckled. “I know.”
Later that evening, close to midnight Oak stared blankly at the ceiling of Delia’s bedroom. Lying in her bed. A sleeping Delia next to him.
the food had been amazing, of course. A glass of wine or two, or three. The kids, before he knew it, sleeping at his place discreetly taken away by Mimey.
More wine, the image of a smug looking Alakazam, Dragonite and mimey, passed through his mind. “Did everyone know and me last?” He whispered to himself. “You knew professor, but you were the last to admit it. After 5 years my patience ran out.” Oak turned to see Delia half asleep, slowly dozing back.
Oak tried to go to sleep. He groaned inwardly, May would know instantly in the morning. “Persians indeed” he thought to himself. “He looked at Delia sleeping face. “A Persian who doesn’t use her claws I guess.” He told himself before falling asleep.
right around an hour later he was woken up by an incoming call on his Pokédex. Blearily he woke up. Delia groaned. “Make it stop. I had too much wine.”
Oak stumbled out of bed irritated, he looked at his dex to see who it was Koga. “Ow Arceus be damned. of course this just has to be important.” He knew Koga wouldn’t call unless something was going on. Oak answered the call.
”Koga, a rather auspicious time to be making a phone call, this isn’t a friendly chat I presume?
“Ah good evening Professor Oak, we have a bit of a situation here in Blackthorne.” Koga answered. “We found a young boy barely 18 years old in the hollow mountains all on his own, with 3 first stage evolution pokemon, a Mankey, a Poochyena and a Cyndaquil.”
”Sounds like someone who started their journey in Johto and got in way over his head, why are you calling me for this?” Oak asked annoyed. He wanted to go back to bed.
”The boy is a whisperer.” A moment of complete silence. “I see.” Oak intoned. “That is intriguing.”
“There is more professor, he claims to have found the gravesite of Reid Ketchum.”
Oak was fully awake, his heart pounding. He muted his Pokédex and stepped back to the bed and shook Delia awake. And pressed a finger to his lips. She looked at him dazed and Oak put his dex on speaker phone and unmuted. “Sorry Koga I was half asleep. Im awake now, can you repeat what you just said?
”The boy claims he found the gravesite of Reid Ketchum, about a thousand miles north of Mt Silver into the hollow mountain range. He doesn’t seem to understand or know the significance of that find.”
Delia went pale and covered her mouth.
”I understand Koga, you said you are in Blackthorne now? Who else have you informed?”
”So far Only the team, Lance, me, Walker, Surge, and the old Nurse Joy knows. We figured we needed your counsel to see how to proceed. It does need discretion. According to Nurse Joy the boy must remain under medical supervision for the next two days and won’t wake. It seems he had quite the Journey.”
“Thank you Koga, good work as always. I will be there as soon as I can.” Oak hung up.
”Do you think there is any truth to what that kid said?” Delia asked.
”Koga is not the kind of man who would call me if he thought it was a lie.” Oak grabbed Delia’s hand. “I am loathe to leave you like this.” Delia shook her head. “No I want to know as well, besides.” She smiled playfully. “Ive always had a thing for men on a mission.” She squeezed his hands. “This doesn’t change anything right?” She asked, her voice slightly quivering. “Not if you don’t want it too, but I do believe we should be discreet for the time being.” He answered.
He got up and got dressed. The lights went on and there hovered his Alakazam. Alakazam handed Oak his pokebelt and a backpack with presumed necessities.
Alakazam nodded at Delia and grabbed Oak by the shoulder and they were gone.
“Don’t worry, il watch the kids.” Delia said to empty space. She felt a mental nod from Alakazam.
Before Oak knew it he stood in front of the Pokemon center in Blackthorne. His 3 oldest Pokemon companions in tow.
he entered. “So am I in the right place?”
The old Nurse Joy, which he recognized from his younger days approached, she had a sultry smile and grabbed his hands and dragged him along. “Ah how good of you to come handsome, right this way.”
”Koga, Surge, Lance.” He greeted the 3 men as he was dragged into the medical ward of the building. He shrugged at the three men. “I will talk to you in the morning it seems.” And waved them goodbye.
”So! You and Delia huh? I must say professor ive never seen a man make a noble lady such as Delia wait for 5 years. What gives?
Oak got the slightest tint of pink to his face as they walked to the human patient wing. “Nurse Joy this is highly inappropriate, how do you know already?” It dawned on Oak. “Ow god I should have known, you Joy’s are obsessed with gossip. And for your information, Delia is like a daughter to me.” he added. “Well till recently that is.”
”Oh my professor ~ you jumped straight into role play already? I must say you have a much dirtier mind then I gave you credit for~” she teased him. getting a rise out of how uncomfortable it made him feel.
”I refuse to continue this conversation.” Oak said sternly.
The old Nurse Joy pouted slightly but nodded. “You always were a private man. She patted his shoulder. “In all seriousness though. Im glad you and Delia found the strength to move forward.” Oak swallowed but nodded. They entered the Room of Carlos. His three mons were sleeping on top and next to their trainer. Oak was amazed at how muscled the boy was. he looked more like a grizzled veteran than a boy who just embarked on his Journey.
Oak sat down and gingerly picked up the beat up Pokedex. He felt proud to see it whirring to life. This had been the first iteration of the pokedex. He hooked it up with his own and downloaded all the files including the corrupted and fragmented files. He opened the journal and the first few lines confirmed this was indeed Reid’s pokedex, almost 30 years he had wondered what had happened to his friend and now he would finally know.
Nurse Joy left him to it. The next day he briefed the 4 men that had found the boy. It was easy for him to backtrack the route the boy had taken. Each pokedex was equipped with a travel step recorder allowing you to backtrack from a place in case you got lost and lost connection to the Pokenet.
The next day he called for Delia and Ashe to join him and they spend half a day traveling and teleporting to the location, the final resting place of Reid. Old nurse Joy joined them. She had known Reid.
Seeing the monument and the gravestone. The final resting place of his old friend. It felt cathartic to him to finally find closure. He briefly talked to the Gollum that had sent Carlos on his way. Everyone got a good laugh as the Gollum got scolded for an hour by old nurse Joy, once she found out it was the old Gollum. with his stone shape ability, that had healed Carlos.
Ashe had to be restrained and tied to Walker’s pidgeot. The boy incessantly claimed he should start his journey here.
Afterwards they all returned to Pallet town. The gravesite undisturbed. It felt wrong, moving Reid’s remains.
It was the next day late afternoon when Oak was comfortably reading his old friend’s journal. Drinking a hot cup of coffee that Carlos stirred awake.
”Hello. How long did I sleep?”
his Pokemon came rushing, jumping up and down. Exhilarated he woke up.
Oak smiled at the scene.
”Good afternoon young man. You slept about 2 days in the tender care of Nurse Joy. I am Professor Oak.”