It took about an hour to reach the nearest Pokémon Center, as I decided to inquire about the talking Meowth I had encountered. Conversations with park-goers revealed that the Meowth had been a fixture in Viridian City for the past five years. Despite its independent nature, it would often take on odd jobs, aiding residents in need and becoming a valued member of the community. However, no one seemed to know where it lived, whether it had a trainer, or if it belonged to a family.

My initial expectations of finding leads related to Team Rocket were left unmet, leaving me more puzzled than before. I had hoped to maybe find info about the notorious Jessy and James, but the mystery surrounding the talking Meowth deepened, leaving me with more questions than answers as I continued to ponder on it.

"Why are you so invested in this talking Meowth, anyway? You plan on capturing it?" Meredith's curiosity probed as we approached the four-story tall Pokémon Center. Its appearance was more rustic than the centralized city ones, yet it retained the iconic red roof and a large Pokéball icon above the entrance. Outside, children played with Sentrets and Rattatas, while Pidgeys and other local bird Pokémon roosted in nearby trees—a stark reminder of the many Pokémon affected by the recent tragedies.

"I sighed, contemplating her question. 'It's not about capturing it. There's something about it-’"

And it's because of you. You caused this. This is all your fault for being so selfish. For not dying. Is your life worth more than all the ones that have died? That will die?

The intrusive thought tore through my mind, sending shivers down my spine as the air seemingly dropped in temperature, and my breath caught in my throat. It was a volatile and unsettling notion, one I hadn't anticipated or fully understood.

A part of you does know - did know back when you accepted the deal. This world deals in absolutes. You should have died along with everything else in that lab. But like the coward you are, you live. You live so that others can die. Remember that you are -

“Erembour? You okay?” Meredith's soft, warm hand rested on my shoulder, abruptly pulling me out of the dark spiral of my thoughts. The sudden interruption jolted me back to the present, leaving me disoriented and unsettled.

“Why are you so cold? It doesn't feel chilly out. Let's get you inside the center; I'm sure they won't mind if we use one of their fireplaces.” Meredith's voice carried concern, and her grip on my shoulder tightened as she guided me inside. I allowed myself to be led, the cold sensation persisting.

Ever since recovering my memories, these intrusive thoughts would sporadically invade my mind, always accompanied by a chilling sensation, as if haunted by a ghost.

You are haunted. Haunted by the ghosts of all that died for your selfish desire to live. Coward. Cretin. You have doomed those that come into your fold. All those that you touch shall -

“Alright, we're here!” Meredith's exclamation pulled me back to the present, and I found myself being pushed into a comfortable armchair.

“Can you believe it? The receptionist gave us the key to a suite and told us to come in and everything. We didn't have to do anything; just told us to wait here for your sponsor. Whoever they are, sure does have some strings they can pull.” Meredith's upbeat tone contrasted with the lingering unease in my mind, providing a temporary distraction from the haunting thoughts that plagued me.

Before I realized it, we were already inside the suite, positioned by a comforting fireplace with a yawning Slugma nestled in the hearth, gradually turning up the heat. The gentle warmth eased the chill from my body as I observed the room's layout. Two large beds stood against opposite walls, a rustic dining table adorned the center, surrounded by four chairs. The table hinted at a small kitchen with essential appliances, and two dark brown wooden doors flanked the beds, accompanied by a metal sliding door for the main entrance. Windows near the fireplace offered a view of tree tops from the park, indicating our location on the fourth floor of the Pokémon Center.

A sense of peace enveloped me until Meredith's words finally registered. My sponsor was on the way? How did he know we would be here? Was he spying on me?

“Did the receptionist say anything else?” I questioned Meredith, my mind grappling with the implications of Blue Oak's unexpected arrival. The man who had rescued us turned out to be none other than Blue Oak himself. While he had provided periodic updates via messaging, today's revelation indicated a more direct and urgent need for communication. His email hinted at a comprehensive discussion about his findings, compelling a mix of anticipation and trepidation within me.

“Hm… Not really. She gave me the key card for the suite, told me that she would have some food sent up for us to eat. Oh! Two other things. That we can give our injured Pokémon to the Chansey delivering our food, and she'll bring them back for us once they're taken care of. The other is to stay put since your sponsor will come to meet us here.”

Meredith settled into a lounge chair beside me, engrossed in her phone. Her legs were crossed, back against a few red and white throw pillows, as she fidgeted and got comfortable. I grunted an acknowledgment, pulling Champ's ball from my belt. Leaning forward, I allowed the heat from the fireplace to wash over me as I contemplated what to say to Blue.

Silence enveloped us, broken only by Meredith's occasional curses as she played her game. My thoughts meandered from Champ to the flood of recovered memories, both mine and those of my other selves. I traced my fingers over Champ's ball, my restored left eye, a symbol of my altered existence, and a testament to the tumultuous events of the past two weeks. The violet pupil remained, a visible change, contrasting with the otherwise normal appearance of my eye. My hair, having returned to its original shock white color and length, mocked the futile attempt I had made to disguise myself.

I let out a sigh and shook my head, my fingers tracing the claw scar over my left eye that still remained. Oddly, Meredith seemed oblivious to the physical differences that had changed in me. It dawned on me – it was as if...

I was a different version of myself to her. The realization clicked in my mind. I had been trying to puzzle it out, but now I finally understood.

I am Abel Shimizu, son of Hitori and Kaoru Shimizu, part of a long-standing family of breeders. I ran away from home due to strict family rules and borderline abuse, unable to live up to my father's expectations and always standing in my sister's shadows.

No. That's not quite right. That was the previous timeline I was currently in. My head began to throb as a surge of memories rushed through my mind like a runaway freight train, each piece adding to the intricate tapestry of my existence. I was back in the original, my true timeline. Except, it seemed like pieces of the Abel Shimizu one merged with my own giving me this eye.

My name - my true name - is Cain Hashimoto. Born to a filthy scoundrel of a man and a small, drug-addicted woman, it was a typical case of being born to the wrong types of people. My father walked out on us when I was five, claiming he didn't sign up for this, and he vanished from our lives with his Dusknoir, leaving my mother and me to fend for ourselves. My mother, broken by his departure, turned to using Enchanting Mist, a Galarian drug derived from the excess fairy mist of Galarian Weezing. It allowed users to relive old memories and play out fantasies in their minds, but the downside was that it slowly polluted the body permanently until it went septic, leading to a withering demise.

I watched her die. My breath hitched in my throat, a tear tracing down my cheek. A harsh reality of a traumatic childhood, no wonder I ended up joining Team Rocket.

“Sooooo… What gym are we going to hit first?”

Her sudden question snapped me out of my thoughts as I wiped the tear away before looking at Meredith, her phone set aside, sitting with her legs crossed, hands on her knees, bouncing with bored energy. It took a moment for my mind to process what she was saying, and then I understood. Right, the gym challenge. I still had to do it.

“Weren't we set on going to Pewter City to beat Forrest?” I began, pausing to consider.

“We were, but all paths to Pewter are cut off right now after the forest fire. Even the Diglett Labyrinth is closed off since a huge amount of the Viridian Forest migrated or were evacuated underground. We wouldn't be able to teleport there, considering that the League wants us to do it the Pilgrimage way.”

She rolled her eyes after saying that. It was indeed ridiculous that they insisted on trainers taking the traditional route, despite the existence of teleportation stations in most cities.

Truthfully, our best bet was to find a gym that would be lenient on trainers without any badges, especially since our main Pokémon needed to rest and heal. Challenging Kenneth at Seafoam would be a devastating blow to morale. As for the other gyms, Cerulean seemed like a viable option. It would also give me a chance to locate Firebeard if he was still stationed in the city. I needed information on Team Rocket’s movements and a list of potential allies for any future endeavors.

“We could try our luck at Cerulean City's gym. I think our best bet would be to take a ship there, train on Route Seventeen, and then take the gym challenge,” I suggested to her. Her bouncing stopped, and she looked away. I caught a glimpse of something on her face. Was it a worried look?

“I dunno… I don't think my team would-”

A sudden series of knocks on the door interrupted her before she could finish her sentence. Immediately, she got up with a grin and headed for the door.

“I got it! I'm sure it's the room service we were waiting for.”

I let out a small sigh and shook my head, returning my attention to the fireplace. It seemed she had her personal reasons for not wanting to go to Cerulean. However, it was the logical course, so I'd have to figure out how to convince her to go along with it. I heard the metal suite door open with a hissing sound.

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“Hi! Are you roo-”

The abrupt silence that followed Meredith's voice alarmed me, and the subsequent thud of a body hitting the ground propelled me into action. I swiftly stood up, unsheathing the knife from my back and using the armchair as an improvised shield, my senses heightened as I faced the unexpected intruder.

“Now, now. There’s no need for that. Let this be a lesson to you two to make sure you’re prepared before answering the door. I expected this of her, but certainly not from you, Erembour.”

I saw Blue standing in the hallway, waving at me with his Alakazam standing behind him. He was wearing a forest green turtleneck, faded black jeans, and had a black utility vest on, looking like he was ready for anything. His medium-length brown hair was still messy and looked almost windswept. Brown eyes stared back at me as he grinned, walking past Meredith’s unconscious form and into the room, with Alakazam trailing behind, a bored look upon his face as one of his spoons lit pink, forming the same aura around Meredith as she floated in and carefully onto one of the beds.

“Don’t worry about her, Rick put her to sleep. The conversation we’re about to have isn’t something she needs to be privy to. Now, have a seat. We’re going to have a long conversation about what your future entails, Cain.”

Two small blue ladderback chairs materialize in the center of the room as the dining table and the four chairs disappear. Blue sits down in one and gestures for me to sit down in the other across from him. I reluctantly put the knife away and Champ’s ball back on my belt before sitting down in the offered chair. I could feel my body shaking as I took the seat. If he knows my true name, then he knows the real me. Considering the fact that I’m not being knocked unconscious, being put in handcuffs, or surrounded by League agents, I’m assuming I might still have a hand to play. I don’t like it. I really don’t, but… I steal a glance at his Alakazam as his other spoon turns pink, a deep purple-pink barrier forming around us. There’s no way I can get out of this without playing along.

Leisurely, he crosses his left leg over his right as he holds out his right hand where a fuchsia-colored notebook materializes. He starts to flip through the pages, not even bothering to look up at me.

“As you've likely deduced, I'm aware of your true identity. I see you contemplating your escape, but rest assured, you're quite outmatched here. It's wise of you to accept your current circumstances. However, before we delve into your future, let's review the information I've gathered about you to ensure nothing's been overlooked. You are Cain Hashimoto, born to Orion and Yua Hashimoto, residents of the impoverished district of Saffron City. Your father, a Black Belt, trained in one of the few remaining dojos in the area. Unfortunately, I couldn't ascertain the dojo's name. Orion, your father, left your home when you were quite young. If you harbored any thoughts of seeking revenge, it's worth noting he's deceased. He met his end tragically while working as an enforcer for Lysander, battling Ace Trainer Ukitake on the Mt. Moon frontier.”

I feel my left eye twitch involuntarily as I struggle to suppress any visible emotional distress. So, the fucker died in Lysander's service, and that asshole never saw fit to inform me. A smirk creeps onto Blue's face as he continues to flip through his notebook.

“Your mother, Yua Hashimoto, died from substance abuse related to the drug Enchanting Mist. It's noted here that she struggled fiercely to provide for both of you, taking on any menial task available, no matter how degrading. Sadly, Lysander bears responsibility for introducing that Galarian drug to Saffron City. I assume you were aware of this, but what you may not know is that it was under Lysander's orders to administer the drug to her, ensuring her silence about your father.”

A wave of overwhelming emotions crashes over me. I always thought her descent into addiction was a consequence of our dire circumstances. Now, it's clear it was part of a malevolent plan orchestrated by Lysander. As Blue is on the brink of sharing more, I'm compelled to interject. There's one crucial truth I need to uncover.

“Firebeard. Was Firebeard also an accomplice to all of this?” I questioned, my teeth clenched, suppressing the vitriol that threatened to spill forth, my desperation for the truth evident. The smirk faded from Blue's face as he leaned forward, closing his book and fixing his gaze on mine.

“I inform you that Lysander is responsible for the demise of your parents, and yet, your concern is directed toward a rogue named Firebeard? Is that the extent of your care for them?” he remarked with a taunting tone.

"Don't you dare presume to know what I care about!" I erupted, my fist colliding with the arm of the chair. Tears welled up behind my eyes, emotions laid bare, raw and unfiltered.

"I lived my life believing that my father was a selfish coward, indifferent to his family, and that my mother was a drug-addicted mess. All I want to know is if the one man I thought genuinely cared about me was true," I declared, the weight of my emotions evident in my quivering words.

Blue's countenance softened, and he reclined in his chair, returning his attention to his book. Flipping through a few pages, he found a particular section and settled into his seat, a smile playing on his lips.

"Well, you're in luck," he began, his tone more relaxed. "Quentin Buchanan, also known as Firebeard, is one of the rare genuinely good individuals within Team Rocket's ranks. At forty-five, he's a survivor of the first Team Rocket gang and currently operates as one of my double agents in the new Team Rocket. So, Mr. Cain. You are quite fortunate indeed to have stumbled upon him as your mentor or else you would have been quite dead with some of the things you have said back then."

A swirling storm of emotions brewed inside me, elation at knowing that Firebeard was a true friend, anger towards Lysander for all the horrid things he has done, despair at knowing that what I thought of my mother and father was a lie. Tears flowed freely down my face as I looked down at the carpeted floor of the room, my tears staining small splotches in it.

“You know you aren't alone, Cain. A lot of people have been hurt by the resurrection of Team Rocket and its corrupted followings. They’ve grown to be almost as strong as they were twenty years ago, having their grubby hands in one too many oran berry pies. That's where you come in and I have a deal just for you.”

He paused for a moment as he waited for me to acknowledge him. Sniffling, I wiped the tears away and looked up at him. He had a soft smile on his face as he gently closed the notebook in his hand and held it up as it blinked out of existence.

“What I want from you is to continue on your journey and to pretend that nothing has happened. You are going to play the role of Erembour Lionheart while Team Rocket continues to try and hunt you down. You will win the Kanto gym circuit and go on to face the Indigo League Championships. I need you to become famous enough to the point that Team Rocket suffers if they try to take you out. Once you reach that point then you and I are going to take the fight to them.”

“And if I refuse?” I dared to ask. I needed to know what the full extent of his cutoff would be.

“If you refuse to ally yourself with us then Rick here is going to scramble your brains to the point that your amnesiac deception will become truth. I'll cut ties with you, take away your sponsorship and leave you for the wolves in Saffron City.”

I stayed silent as I let his words sink in. He thinks I've been faking my memory loss this entire time. Meaning that he hasn't had his Alakazam read my mind or - it dawned on me at that point, remembering the Gothitelle from when I woke up in the hospital - he can't read my mind. What happened to my mind that Psychic types can't go in there and mess around?

The Dark parasite harbored inside of you protects itself from discovery by shrouding your mind, ensuring both of your safety. These two know it; I can smell the fear wafting off of them.

The thought reverberated in my mind with the force of a growling thunderclap as each word felt like a slap to the skull. Blue saw me wince and smiled, thinking that his threat was working on me.

“Look, Cain. If you do this for me - for us - then I'll help you out. I'll have two of my elite assistants guard you from afar to ensure that no harm comes to you and your companion. They'll only intervene if the threat is something that you cannot handle. In exchange, you'll keep your sponsorship, I won't toss you to the League authorities, and when all is said and done, your history with Team Rocket and your affiliation with Lysander will be scrubbed clean. I'll even ensure you're set with a nice comfortable life fit for retirement. What do you say?”

I wanted to say no. I wanted to say fuck you for trying to change my life and who I was. Sure I wasn't proud of who I had become, but that was a part of me. My hands balled into fists reflexively as I planned out the best way to do this. I had a phial of Dark type energy slotted into my knife. I could take Blue hostage and force his Alakazam to let me through, but that would -

They bore me. Kill them. Kill them and be done with it. Don't you want your freedom? Do it. End them and you'll be free.

Again my mind was filled with roaring thunder as my body temperature started to drop. My thoughts kept turning murderous, my hand reaching for the knife at my back.

As time seemed to freeze, a vivid memory of my mother unfolded in my mind. I was ten, surrounded by the clutter of her small room. She lay in bed, battling a fierce fever, her body fighting the poison coursing through her system. During such times, I took it upon myself to care for her, procuring stolen food from the bustling market bazaars in the alleys of Saffron. On occasion, I'd assist the local mafia as a lookout, earning meager funds to support us.

That particular day, however, stands out. I was at her side, tears streaming down my face. My own appearance was battered—bloodied face, broken nose, and hands stinging from the raw skin of my knuckles. Forced to fight for money against a Machop as entertainment for a sadistic wealthy punk, I emerged victorious, given that the Machop was still young and inexperienced. The sadistic individual then threw a knife at my feet, demanding I kill the Machop for extra payment. I outright refused, asking for the agreed-upon compensation. My defiance angered him, leading his goons to beat me mercilessly while the mafia boss I worked for observed. In a twisted turn of events, they forced the knife into my hands, holding the struggling Machop down, compelling me to bring the blade down on it. The memory resurfaced with a haunting clarity, I had placed a cold towel to her head and made sure she was comfortable. Breathing heavily, my frail and weak mother's hand wrapped around my blood-stained wrist. Her hazel eyes, captivating even in her weakened state, locked onto mine with an intensity that belied her fragile appearance.

"Thank you, my sweet Cain. I know it's tough, but things will get better. You’ll see. We’ll make it through this. We always do. But, never resort to killing. You’re better than that. You’ll grow to be big and strong just like your father. Never kill. Please, my sweet, beautiful child. Don’t ever kill. Promise me."

I made a solemn promise that day, despite the bile rising in my throat. I couldn't bring myself to tell her about the gruesome act I had been forced to commit. But from that day forward, I vowed never to take a life, and I upheld that promise.

Now, as the compulsion to grab the knife fought against my resolve, I resisted until the unseen force relented. A sinister chuckle echoed in my mind, leaving me disturbed by the malevolent presence that seemed to revel in its control.

My, my. What a strong resolve you have there. You’ll do just fine.

“I accept your offer,” I said meekly to Blue as I feigned scratching my back to put him at ease. A horrible exhaustion washed over me. I wanted nothing more right now than to crawl into bed and pass out, the memory of my mother still fresh in my mind.

“I’m tired. Perhaps we can pick this up tomorrow?” I looked at him pleadingly. The last thing I needed was for whatever was in my head to try and exert its control again. Blue continued to look at me with an intensity that made me shift uncomfortably in my chair before he put his cheeky grin back on his face and got up.

“Very well, then, Erembour. We won’t need to meet again for some time. After this moment, you are free to journey as you please. I’ll be watching with the utmost interest. Don’t disappoint me now, which I’m sure you won’t.”

And just like that, he disappeared in the blink of an eye along with his Alakazam. The chair disappeared from beneath me, and I fell flat on my back on the empty bed across from Meredith.

I was left alone with my thoughts as I heard Meredith’s soft snores fill the air. The chill that had slowly seeped into me again faded fast. Too tired to think and too tired to do anything else, I let my tears trickle down my cheeks as I drifted into a fitful sleep with thoughts of the few cherished moments I had with my mother and father.