I abruptly wake to loud shouts and arguments swirling around me.
"What the hell are you doing, Bryan?! You can't just restrain him like that! He's still my--"
The doctor's sentence is abruptly interrupted by a loud bark and a menacing growl.
"I have the authority granted by Lance. Regardless of his age, he's a suspect--"
Another fierce bark accompanies the sensation of something landing on my bed. I instinctively reach out to remove it, only to feel the cold bite of metal on my left wrist. My eyelid flutters open, and I'm greeted by the sight of a small canine like pokemon on all fours bearing its teeth at me. Its fur was a mixture of orange and black stripes with beige tufts of fur around its muzzle, chest, belly, tail and at the top of its head. Dark brown eyes stared at me as its black nose took sniffs of the air with its large, round and almost triangular ears pointed back. An extremely weary Growlithe is sitting on my lap, bearing its teeth at me. Holy shit what is happening.
Meanwhile, my left hand remains handcuffed to the bed railing, and Gothitelle is nowhere to be found.
"What happened?" I try to say but instead mumble, my speech slurred. The room suddenly seems to spin around me, and I can feel some drool dripping from my lips.
Bryan's tense posture eases slightly as he looks at me, a hint of concern before it disappears and is replaced by a look of hostility.
"My Gothitelle experienced feedback damage. It seems you possess a formidable mental shield, deliberately blocking access to your thoughts. It's either something you want to protect or someone implanted it there. I've already contacted a trainer with an Alakazam who has powerful psychic abilities to help dismantle the shield. We're just waiting for their arrival."
His words slowly register in my mind, and I simply lie back, resigned to the situation. Well, I suppose this is for the best. Once they get here, the psychic’s Alakazam will uncover my identity and unravel whatever is going on with me.
A soft melodic ringtone resonates through the room, drawing my attention as a Rotom phone emerges from Bryan's back pocket and floats before him. Whatever is on the screen must be upsetting because Bryan immediately frowns and then scowls. He recalls his Growlithe and looks at me.
“It seems you or whoever you work for has friends in high places. I’ve been pulled off of your case along with the Psychic I had called in. I’m to return to HQ and give my report.”
He looks to the Doctor as his fist clenches, turning his knuckles white.
“I’ve been told to inform you, Dr. Kaguya when he is in good enough condition to be discharged he is to be sent to Professor Oak’s lab.”
He takes one last look at me before storming out of the room. I let out a breath that I hadn’t even realized I was holding. That was scary. I move my hand to wipe my face only to feel it tug at the handcuff.
“He couldn’t be bothered to take these off?” A small sigh escapes my lips as I look at the Poké Ball at the end of my bed, trying to force some kind of memories to come back to me. Nothing comes to me.
“I’m going to finish the rest of your exams. Aside from your left eye being gone, I should be able to get you out of here by tomorrow morning. With the procedure that was done to your right shoulder, it should heal fine. I’ll contact one of the Professor’s lab assistants to come get you and take you to him.”
I give him a questioning look as he shrugs half-heartedly and leaves the room, leaving me with my thoughts. I settle back into the bed and stare at the ball at the foot of my bed.
Who was I? Who am I going to be now? What Pokemon is in that ball? I let out a groan as I close my eye. It doesn’t matter. What matters is getting myself on my feet again and working towards survival. That’s all I need to focus on. Survival. I open my eye again as I look up at the painted Pidgeys on the ceiling. A strong urge to gnaw through my wrist and run from here blooms inside of me. I want to be as free as those Pidgeys, to be a part of the sky and fly wherever I want. But why? Who was I that desired my freedom so strongly?
My eye falls back on the Poké Ball. Thanks to the pokemon in that ball they’re more than likely going to make me become a trainer. They’ll register me to keep an eye on me. That’s fine. I have a feeling it’ll work out for me in the end. All I can do now is just sleep and rest.
I yawn before closing my eye and allowing sleep to take me.
----------------------------------------
"Rise and shine! It's time for some Pidgey eggs and Lechonk Bacon!" a smooth female voice rings through the room accompanied by the sound of an amplified 'dred' noise.
My eye shoots open as I sit up wide awake. To my right sits a cute woman with an athletic build in her early twenties, dressed in a simple black tank top and khaki utility pants with an Indigo jacket wrapped around her waist. Her sleek black hair is done back in a loose ponytail accenting the sharp features of her face. However, what really catches my attention are her mesmerizing hazel eyes. I could feel myself getting lost in them. I almost do until I hear a laughing snort from her left that breaks me out of my reverie. Almost hiding behind the armrest of her chair, I notice a three foot tall purple pokemon with a square build standing on two short legs. It has a ridiculously large mouth with yellow lips and peg-like teeth in each corner of it. On top of its head are two short stalks that carry two circular ears with black and red rings inside of them, almost like a loudspeaker. I can see its bulky arms ending in three fingers crossed against its chest as it finally steps out from behind the arm rest. I believe It is a Loudred standing next to her, riddled with small scars here and there.
"You look like you need some coffee. Should I come back with some? Do you take yours black or with some Moomoo milk?" Her voice is smooth but filled with energy, energy I suddenly realize I don't have.
I groan and lean back. What time is it and how long have I been out? All of it feels like a haze.
These Arceus-damn nurses kept waking me up every so often for blood work or to help me use the restroom. I remember that eventually, Dr. Kaguya came back with a key to remove the handcuff. Other than that, all of it is a blur.
"Hellooooo, earth to Mr. Mysterious guy! Are you there?" she starts to get closer to me, and I can smell a sweet fragrance coming off of her. Out of the corner of my eye, her Loudred sucks in air and then belts out a short screech in my direction that shakes me and my bed.
"I'm here! I'm ok! Damn Legendaries. Was that necessary?" I shout at Loudred, who simply grins and hides behind his trainer, and I notice she mimics his grin.
"We had to be sure you hadn't fallen into a catatonic stupor. You were staring at my face so intently and not responding."
I can feel my face burn up, forcing me to cough. Well, that's embarrassing. Alright, keep it together. Just because she's cute doesn't mean she has a sparkling personality. Who is she anyway?
"Right, a coffee with some Moomoo milk would be fine."
Her grin gets broader as she sits back down and crosses her legs.
"That is going to have to wait. I'm here to explain a few things. One. You're going to be under the watchful eye of the Indigo League until your memories are back. Two, you are going to be enrolled in the trainer program. You're still of age based on your body's health and composition. One year of duty with no badge requirements and funded by the league which means you're getting the bare minimum in trainer services. Free Pokémon center and hospital health care, free room stays at the Pokemon center, and a small allowance of twelve thousand Pokédollars bi-weekly. It's not much, but should be enough to cover Pokémon and traveling expenses. Oh! You’ll also be receiving a standard Rotom League phone with a built-in Pokédex.”
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She pouts as she taps her finger on her chin, lost in thought for a moment.
“Ah, right. The third one. At each city you arrive at during your journey, you are to contact me and give me updates on how you’re doing and if any of your memories have come back. This one is extremely important. If you forget to contact me at any given point it means you forfeit the League’s generous care package and you will immediately be picked up and taken back to HQ.”
Seemingly satisfied with her monologue, she looks at me with a smile. “Any questions?”
Yeah. No shit. I have a bunch, but before I can even open my mouth to say something, she sits up, clasps her hands together, and starts to head out the door.
“No questions? Perfect! I’ll go get that coffee now and then be back. There’s some paperwork we need to fill out. Be back soon. Bye!”
And with that, she disappears, leaving me alone with her Loudred, who's snickering next to the chair in my direction.
Great. This is going absolutely well. I lose the diehard league trainer and get a crazy nut in exchange. I just have to hold out until she gives me my stuff and then I'll be free. Free… To figure out who I am and where I'm going.
I focus my attention on the mounted wall TV across from my bed. It's another news headline that reads “Explosion in Celadon City's Silph building due to lab accident". Curious, I raise the volume to listen to a handsome gray haired news reporter who's standing in front of the ruined Silph building. Half of it has fallen into a canal to the side. Behind him, the entire scene is roped off, and several league agents dressed in their indigo uniforms can be seen roaming around the grounds. The reporter is smiling as he continues to talk into the microphone.
"... Head of the department, renowned Dr. Julian Silversmith, has given us a statement about the events that transpired three days ago. We are going to let it play for you guys.”
The television transitions from him to a man who looks like he’s in his forties, dressed in an elegant black suit with his silver-gray hair slicked back, a well-groomed beard, and some sleek round glasses. He’s standing in front of a podium as camera flashes pop up here and there. A headache blooms as a sense of recognition washes over me. It's followed soon after by a sense of deep hatred and animosity towards this man, before simply fading. What… The hell was that? What just happened to me? How do I know a bigwig from Silph Co.? Why would I hate him?
He begins to speak, a honeyed voice emitting from the tv and filling my room.
"Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. I stand before you today to address the concerns that have arisen due to the unfortunate incident at our esteemed Celadon Silph Branch. I want to assure each and every one of you that the safety of our community remains our highest priority. I'm here to provide you with a comprehensive update on the situation.
First and foremost, I am relieved to report that no injuries were sustained during the incident. While an explosion did occur, it was the result of an unfortunate accident that transpired during a routine experiment. Our hearts go out to the individuals directly involved, and we wish them a swift recovery.
Let me address the circumstances that led to this incident. We encourage ambition and innovation within our ranks, which has driven our organization's success for years. However, it appears that one of our interns exhibited excessive enthusiasm in their pursuit of a new potion formula. Regrettably, this zeal led to unintended consequences. Rest assured, we are taking immediate and decisive action to address this matter. The intern responsible will be held accountable, and appropriate measures will be taken to ensure that such incidents do not recur.
In light of these events, we are taking additional steps to safeguard the well-being of our employees, our partners, and the community. We are temporarily suspending operations at our Celadon branch and relocating to our Lavender City branch. This transition will allow us to review and enhance our safety protocols and ensure a seamless continuation of our services.
I want to emphasize that the rumors regarding this incident being a Team Rocket attack are unequivocally false. Team Rocket, as many of you know, was defeated years ago by the combined efforts of our esteemed Champion Red, the valorous Lance, and the dedicated agents at Indigo Plateau. The citizens of Kanto can find solace in the knowledge that this incident was an isolated accident, not a resurgence of past threats.
In closing, I extend my gratitude to all of you for your understanding and support during this challenging time. We are committed to rectifying the situation and ensuring that such incidents are prevented in the future. Silph Co. remains dedicated to its mission of progress and innovation, and we will continue to uphold the highest standards of safety and integrity.
Thank you, and may the blessings of Arceus be with us all."
He gives a curt bow before walking off the stage as the reporters try questioning him further. The scene changes back to the news reporter just as the new girl comes back into the room with two coffee cups in hand. I quickly hit the mute button as she walks in.
"You know, you never told me your name," I say as she hands me my coffee.
"Oh? I didn't, did I? Well, how about that, Mr. Mysterious. Are you really that curious about little ol’ me? Well, it'll cost you," she replies, giving me a sly wink. Loudred starts chuckling, and I feel my cheeks grow warm.
“That’s fine, I’ll pay the price.” I shyly nod in response.
"Well, at least you know what you want," she chuckles softly, her laughter sounding like music to my ears. "My name is Serena. I'll be your League liaison throughout your year of civic duty. Normally, rookie trainers don't get a liaison, but since we're sponsoring you and, well, considering your unique circumstances, you're a special case." She chuckles before reaching her hand out to Loudred who hands her a manila folder.
"Now, as mentioned before, I have some paperwork for you. Here," she says, handing me the folder along with a Ditto pen. I raise an eyebrow as I open the folder and find a standard trainer licensing questionnaire and exam. The exam has already been completed and graded, showing an average passing score. However, the questionnaire is blank. I look up at her, puzzled.
"I was impressed with your passing score on the exam, although there are a few areas that need improvement," she says quickly and cheerfully. Yet, I could tell that by the way her eyes meet mine that there’s something more going on and that I need to play along. "Unfortunately, it seems the questionnaire you filled out went missing, so you'll have to redo it. Clumsy me, I must have lost it when Bryan handed it to me."
She grins mischievously, and laughs. That laughter of hers... oddly enough it makes my heart flutter.
"Uh, right," I mumble, glancing back at the questionnaire. It looks like some of the info is already filled out for me. Name? Erembour Lionheart. Age? 17. Hometown? Pallet Town. Pretty straightforward stuff. The rest of the form asks about my Pokémon battling knowledge, any experience I might have, and if I have a support system. Some parts are already filled out, like the support system one, but the others... Well, I guess I'll have to fill them in myself.
I reach for the ditto pen, ready to jot down my answers, but then I realize I miss the line for the question I was about to answer. Huh. That’s odd. I try again and I have to forcefully place the pen down to paper in order to attempt to get it to the right spot. I guess losing an eye must have messed with my depth perception and coordination.
Serena must notice my struggling because she clears her throat and speaks up. "I can fill those sections out for you if you want. Just tell me what you want written down, and I'll take care of it."
She holds out her hand, and I hesitantly hand her the paperwork. For the next half-hour or so, we go back and forth, discussing my responses and making sure everything is filled in. Loudred decides to chime in every now and then when he gets bored. Once we finish, Serena neatly puts the papers back in the folder and stretches.
"Alrighty, that should cover it for now! I'll take this back to our office and get your Trainer ID and Rotom phone set up. In a couple of hours, the lab assistant from Professor Oak's place will swing by to get you discharged."
Once Serena and Loudred say their goodbyes and leave, I find myself alone in the room. The TV no longer holds my interest as it switches from covering the Celadon Silph explosion to an interview with some up-and-coming trainers. My gaze drops down to the Pokéball resting at the edge of the bed. Well, it's finally time to meet my mysterious partner. I muster the energy to get up and stumble my way over to the ball. As I pick it up, the familiar weight and texture of the red and white sphere greet my touch. With a deep breath, I press the activation button, and a burst of vibrant red light shoots out, illuminating the center of the room. In a dazzling flash, a humanoid figure materializes before me, standing at a height similar to that of a small child. As the light fades, I can see a predominantly pale purple body clad in black shorts and shoes. Three distinct protrusions adorn its head, with a pair of yellow eyes and circular sections that seem like protective padding. Red bandages are wrapped around its torso and wrists, adding a touch of color to its appearance. Its limbs are slender, and its hands feature three fingers. There it is, my partner—a Tyrogue. The little guy looks at me with utmost curiosity, eyes wandering up and down my body taking in the extent of my damage. He bows and looks at me expectantly.
Well shit. This is going to be interesting.