I gaze out of the truck window, mesmerized by the passing scenery. It's like a picturesque dream. The landscape is a beautiful mix of lush greens and vibrant floral pinks, a clear sign of the spring season. We've entered a floral meadow area, and I can spot various Pokémon frolicking around. A Rattata is playfully interacting with a Sandshrew, while a Floette rushes over to scold them as their playtime starts to disturb the flowers. In the distance, a man-made snow-capped mountain stands tall next to the ocean. It's incredible to see the progress they've made over the years.
We've traveled two hours from the hospital to the perimeter of what used to be Oak's Lab. Well, now it's Oak's Research Institute ever since Blue inherited the property. He had this grand vision of expanding the knowledge and scientific advancements in Kanto to catch up with the other regions. And boy, did it turn into something huge. This whole place has become a Pokémon industrial hub, with big-shot scientists coming in to do impressive scientific research, or so Lucas has been rambling on about for the duration of the truck ride. He told me they expanded the territory and created these specialized Pokémon biomes for better research and care in their natural habitats. It's mind-blowing how much they've accomplished in just 20 years. I look back to admire the mountain once more, affectionately nicknamed Mt. Copper in honor of its inspiration, Mt. Silver.
My thoughts are interrupted by a cough from Lucas, who's been attempting to engage me in small talk. I'm not really in the mood for conversation. Doctor Kaguya wrote in the paperwork that my left eye is permanently gone. They attempted the experimental procedure using Ditto cells to regenerate it, but it resulted in a cancerous mutation, and they had to remove the whole eye. Thankfully, though, the rest of my body managed to tolerate the infusion. The list was extensive - a fractured left tibia, my right femur was cracked in two, several broken ribs, my right arm was thoroughly crushed, my left forearm fractured with my left shoulder dislocated. There were several bruised organs and a punctured lung. Needless to say, the damage was extensive, including minor skull fractures. How did I manage to survive? No one knows. According to Lucas, they had to disclose all of this information as part of my new trainer access, especially now that I've recovered from my injuries.
Naturally, I'm upset about what they did. From what Lucas had informed me, ditto cell regeneration was still in the Pokémon trial phase and I had a forty percent chance of survival. If the trial were to have failed then I would have suffered the most horrendous and excruciating pain imaginable before dying to something like cancer. Although, in the end, I'm alive because of their actions it still left a bad taste in my mouth. Even my right arm, which I flex to test its functionality, has miraculously healed according to the final x-ray before I left. It might still be tender and sore, but at least I can use it. I let out a frustrated sigh. I can't see Lucas, but I can feel his eyes on me and imagine the concern welling up in them. He's a nice guy, just a bit awkward at times.
"Look, Erembour. What they did..." Lucas pauses, clearing his throat before continuing. "What happened to you, it sucks. They shouldn't have used you as a trial run, but in the end, the important thing that matters is that it saved you, and the compensation the League is giving you isn't half bad."
I perk up at that, turning my head towards him.
"Compensation? You mean hush money, right?" I ask, struggling to see him with my eye. He has a wide grin on his face, like he's reveling in some secret.
"Yeah. You won't believe how much you can get for being a subject in experimental treatments. Five hundred thousand pokedollars, plus an extra ten thousand on your bi-weekly League income. When Blue found out about what they had done, he immediately went on the offensive and fought for your case. The moment he mentioned legal action to their representatives, they crumbled and went for a quick settlement outside of the courts."
My jaw drops. Holy Arceus, that's… Wait, how much is that? My mind understands the numbers, but I can't assign any actual values to them.
"How much is that exactly?" I inquire, realizing that I no longer have a concrete understanding of money. I know what it is and how it functions, but the actual value eludes me. Lucas looks at me with a hint of concern.
"It's enough to keep you comfortable on your travels until you earn your fourth badge. That is if you manage it wisely and don't spend it on unnecessary things. Use it for your Pokémon's supplies and your own survival. Stick to reputable retail stores or accredited online vendors, and don't buy from random people."
An image flashes inside my mind, like a snippet from a forgotten memory. I find myself crouching at the entrance of a dimly lit alley behind a dumpster, observing a deal unfolding between two shadowy figures. Above them, a vigilant blue bat-like Pokémon with large purple wings hovers, poised for action. I remember—I'd been tasked with a mission to confront someone encroaching on my turf, peddling counterfeit potions to unsuspecting victims. The peddler was someone I was supposed to observe due to suspicious behavior and unexplained splurges.
As the transaction concludes and the innocent buyer departs, I give a subtle signal, and the bat prepares to strike. As it swoops down for the kill, a wave of excruciating pain surges through my head, distorting my vision and plunging me into darkness. The memory slips away as quickly as it came, leaving me bewildered and disoriented. I try to recall more and feel myself blocked by something. For all the effort I muster, I can't get past this barrier. A trace of it lingers before it's gone, replaced by a knowledge of what kind of goods I can buy on the black market, how much certain items, Pokémon, or parts are supposed to go for, and a bunch of other information that I can't seem to understand why I know.
What does it all mean? Why do I feel like I had a territory to protect, and how did I come to possess such extensive knowledge about counterfeit items? The flood of fragmented information overwhelms me, and I seek respite by closing my eye and resting my head against the headrest.
"I think I just need to relax until we get there," I mumble to Lucas, my voice filled with uncertainty.
"Yeah, sure," Lucas responds, his tone laced with disappointment. "I'll wake you up once we arrive."
The remainder of the journey passes in silence as I try to make sense of the muddled pieces of my past, desperately longing for clarity and understanding. Did I own a Golbat? Where is it now? I hope it’s okay.
I feel a tear stream down my face and a sense of sadness before dozing off.
"Hey, Erembour. Wake up. We're here," Lucas gently nudges me, and I slowly rouse from my nap. As I open my eye, I'm greeted by a sight that takes my breath away. Spread out before me is an expansive campus with several research buildings. One building stands out in the middle of them all—a magnificent glass dome structure—with connecting walkways leading to other buildings behind it. In front of this main building, a vibrant garden blooms with a kaleidoscope of colorful flowers, and at its center stands a remarkable statue of Samuel Oak. The statue depicts Oak extending his hand in a welcoming gesture, flanked by Mewtwo and Mew. Mewtwo stands with his arms crossed, giving off an air of vigilance, while Mew perches on Oak’s shoulder with a mischievous smile. The statue seems to come alive, crafted with skill and adorned with a rich palette of marble. It's truly a masterpiece.
"Go ahead, take a look. It's something incredible," Lucas says in a reverent tone.
With eager anticipation, I get out of his truck and hurry over to get a closer view. The air is filled with a wonderful floral scent as I get closer to the statue. It's breathtaking and amazing how well the sculptors made this statue, almost as if it's alive. Just below the statue, a bronze plaque catches my eye, and I read its inscription...
"In loving memory of Samuel Oak,
who paved the road to peace, harmony, and prosperity.
This statue stands as a testament to his unwavering spirit,
his relentless pursuit of knowledge,
and his remarkable bond with the extraordinary.
With Mewtwo and Mew, guardians of power and wonder,
hovering over his shoulder, forever etched in stone,
we honor the legacy of a visionary,
who brought worlds together in pursuit of understanding.
May his teachings guide us,
inspiring a future where boundaries are broken,
where compassion triumphs over conflict,
and where the wonders of the Pokémon world
become a beacon of hope for all.
Let us continue on the march to a better future,
honoring Samuel Oak's legacy,
and embracing the ideals of unity, discovery, and harmony.
In memory of a remarkable man,
whose spirit will forever echo through these lands. "
I gaze up at the memorial once again, contemplating the significance of the man known as the "Father" of two of the strongest champions ever seen. Oak had been no ordinary figure himself, as his radio interviews and leaked information from Agatha hinted. The statues of Mewtwo and Mew beside him stir thoughts within me—where were they now? Had they vanished? Or were they accompanying Red? Nostalgia wells up inside of me the longer I look at them. It was a foreign feeling, almost artificial or mechanical. How can I long for Pokémon that I had never met?
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I press the release button on Champ's Poké Ball, summoning him to my side. He blinks a few times, taking in the remarkable surroundings. His eyes widen with awe, and a small smirk tugs at the corner of my lips.
"Pretty incredible, huh? Just one of the many wonders of Kanto," I remark, my gaze fixed on the flower garden. Narcissus, roses, and lilies of various hues adorn the garden landscape. A gentle breeze caresses us, strengthening the sweet scent of the blooms in the air. Arceus, It's truly a moment of tranquility.
A soft utterance of "Rogue..." escapes Champ's lips, his eyes captivated by Mewtwo's presence. I can see him smile, but there's something else. The way he looks at him, almost as if… Sadness? Maybe regret?
We stand there for a few more minutes, savoring the soothing breeze, while I try to work up the courage to ask him what's on his mind when a giggle breaks the serenity. I turn my head and find myself face to face with a stunning girl, around my age, I think. Her blue eyes lock with mine, and her heart-shaped face, adorned with light brown hair, holds a captivating smile. A subtle dimple adorns her left cheek. Heat rushes to my face, and I quickly avert my gaze.
"What's so funny?" I manage to ask, my voice barely above a whisper. Internally, I groan at my own awkwardness. First, Serena and now this stranger?
Between her giggles, she points above my head. I follow her gaze and spot a ball of black floating a few inches away from my face. The ball then emits a purplish haze before two massive white eyes appear along with a pink floating mouth that contains two sharp canine-like teeth, its eyes cross and its tongue sticks out at me. A sweet noxious smell comes off of it, similar to garbage that has been left to ripen in the hot sun and then doused in floral perfume.
Startled by the Gastly, I take a step back feeling myself get woozy, only to misjudge the distance backward and promptly fall on my ass. In a swift and instinctive response, Champ runs to be in front of me as he unleashes a Rock Slide attack aimed at the floating Gastly. The ground around us trembling as large chunks of the earth are torn up from the surroundings, hurtling forward with the intent to smash into the ghostly Pokémon. But, in the blink of an eye, the Gastly disperses into thin air, causing the rocks to continue their trajectory, soaring towards the statue of Professor Oak.
It feels like time slows down as all of us look wide-eyed as the rocks continue on their collision course until they slam into an invisible barrier before falling down to the ground mere inches away from the statue.
"Mia! Erembour! Put your Pokémon away right now!" Lucas' voice booms with stern authority. Without hesitation, both Mia and I recall our Pokémon, turning to face him as he rushes towards us. Beside him trots a two-foot-tall, cat-like Pokémon covered in soft lilac fur. Despite its delicate appearance, the red gem on its forehead glows with a menacing light, and its purple eyes narrow in irritation. Its slender legs and dainty paws give it an elegant gait, while its thin, forked tail swishes back and forth in annoyance. Lucas has an Espeon by his side, its expression mirroring the irritation of its trainer.
Mia's gaze drops to the ground, and I follow suit, feeling a sense of familiarity tinged with unease. Here it comes—the scolding, the reprimanding, for something that might not even be entirely my fault. But why does this scenario feel so familiar? Why does it feel like this is not the first time I was facing something like this? Confusion begins to mingle with the nostalgia, and a dull headache pulses at the back of my skull.
"Do I really need to remind you, Mia, that you must keep your Gastly in its Poké Ball at all times, especially around others? This kind of altercation could have been avoided. What if Gastly had gotten injured? Or, even worse, had that attack hit the statue, we would be facing severe consequences," Lucas' voice carries a tone of exasperation as he continues to address Mia. With each word, her posture seems to shrink, and she appears deflated.
As Lucas' scolding persists, I feel a strange tug in my memory. The way her shoulder-length hair frames her face, the defeated look in her eyes—why does it all feel so familiar? It's as if I had been in this situation before, but I can't quite put my finger on when or how.
" And you, Erembour... "
I can't help but flinch as my name is uttered, Lucas' gaze zeroing in on me. My muscles tense involuntarily, bracing for whatever is to come next.
" - I understand that what you've been through has been difficult, but if you're going to have your Tyrogue out, you must ensure he listens to you and doesn't act out impulsively."
" I apologize, Lucas. It won't happen again. “ I nod, mimicking Mia's demeanor down to the slump of my shoulders and the avoidance of his gaze. It's a well-practiced display of submission. Despite the fact that I don't truly feel remorse for what happened, I need to stay in Lucas's good graces. But why do I know how to do this? Is this me acting in a way that resonated with my past self? Is this a glimpse of the person I used to be?
Lucas's tone softens as he continues, his frustration melting away, replaced by a sigh and a casual scratch of the back of his head.
"Remember, Pokémon aren't just companions. They have distinct personalities, thoughts, emotions, and motivations. They're individuals capable of independent actions. Just bear that in mind for the future."
An awkward silence hangs in the air until Mia clears her throat, breaking the tension.
"Well, I apologize for Gastly's behavior. She has a tendency to - "
I hear Lucas clear his throat and fix her with a stern look.
" - we both have a tendency to play pranks. It's a way for Gastly to hone her ghostly abilities, and, I admit, it's something I enjoy too. Lucas, I have a legitimate reason. This is part of my thesis research under Professor Oak."
As Mia speaks, her voice carries a blend of sheepishness and earnestness, as if she's both admitting her need for pranks and also appealing to a higher purpose. The familiarity of the situation gnaws at my thoughts, as if I had witnessed these interactions before, experienced them firsthand. But where and when? My headache intensifies as I struggle to grasp onto some of the elusive fragments of what might have been my memory.
Her words trail off toward the end, leaving her face flushed with embarrassment as Lucas chuckles.
"You sound a lot like your mother. Alright then, if it's for research purposes, I'll let you off with a warning. You are going to be reprimanded and I am going to notify your mother. Make sure you exercise caution next time and be careful of who you choose as your research subjects. I expect the first draft on my desk next week. Now, off you go."
With a quick nod and a bow, she scurries away. As she leaves, I finally notice her clothing—a well-worn brown leather explorer's jacket, paired with sturdy brown cargo pants. She carries a faded red backpack adorned with several ghost Pokémon pins on the front.
"You'd do well to keep an eye on her. She's closer to being a ghost type than a human," Lucas comments with a hint of amusement. I stare at him with a puzzled expression on my face.
"What does that even mean? How can someone be more like a ghost than a human?"
Lucas scratches his head, a sigh escaping his lips before he recalls his Espeon.
"It's a topic we can delve into at another time, if you're interested. It revolves around Type energy and its interaction with humans, or rather how humans can manipulate it."
I stare at him skeptically, his words sounding outlandish. The concept that humans could harness Type energy, the essence that powered Pokémon moves based on their elemental nature, borders on the absurd. I shake my head in disbelief. It just can't be true.
“I can’t wrap my head around it,” I murmur, grappling with the idea. The notion that humans could tap into the same power that fueled Pokémon was nothing short of impossible.
"Whether you can believe it or not, it's not beyond the realm of possibility. She's embarking on this exploration, and while it's risky, that's the beauty of science—venturing into the unknown," Lucas states, a fond smile directed towards her vanishing form. He then shifts his gaze to me, his hand resting on my shoulder.
"Come, it's time to get you settled. We'll be going to the main campus… But, first."
He grins as he gently moves my body to face towards the area to our right. There's a series of small battlefields there with one being currently occupied by a small group of trainers. I can see a Rattata battling against another Rattata.
" How about we gauge how well your battling is based on your current memory?"
I follow Lucas and we settle in a field away from the crowd. The arena is marked with rustic white chalk outlines, adhering to the standard format. I position myself at one end while Lucas takes the other. Releasing my Tyrogue, I explain the situation to him, and he scoffs, crossing his arms and glancing at Lucas with a challenging expression.
"It's going to be a three-on-one battle. Let's see what your Tyrogue can do," Lucas says, cracking his neck before sending out his Rattata. The small purple, rat-like Pokémon lands on all fours, baring its long incisor toward Tyrogue.
"I'm going to toss this coin into the air. The moment it hits the ground, the battle begins," Lucas announces, his words adding to the mounting tension. Something about all of this feels strangely familiar, though I can't recall having engaged in battles before. Nevertheless, instinct kicks in, and I assume a familiar stance, a rush of ideas flowing through my mind about possible scenarios and strategies for Champ.
A small curious crowd gathers to watch as Lucas tosses the coin into the air. Both Pokémon lock eyes, while Lucas and I focus on the descending coin. The seconds drag on, the suspense stretching what feels like minutes until the coin finally strikes the ground.
"Bulk Up and stay on the defensive, Champ!" I instinctively shout, surprising myself with the naturalness of the command.
At the same time, Lucas calmly says, "Quick Focus."
Champ and Rattata begin glowing with an orange hue. Champ assumes a defensive posture, while Rattata's body blurs with white flashes, darting around Champ in search of a vulnerable spot. It maintains this pattern, attacking when it senses an opening, which Champ swiftly closes before it can inflict significant damage.
I can sense Champ's growing irritation and impatience. With each missed strike, he lunges further, attempting to seize the elusive Rattata.
"Champ! Stay calm and use Rock Slide to trip it up!" I command, shifting Tyrogue's strategy. The Pokémon switches gears, adopting a boxing stance as multiple medium-sized boulders lift up from the ground around it. Rattata keeps its distance, wary of the incoming attack.
"Rattata, Double Team. Dodge those rocks." Lucas calmly directs his Pokémon, and suddenly, Rattata splits into several clones of itself as Tyrogue launches its barrage. The first boulder slams into the original Rattata, causing it to dissipate into shimmering fragments of light.
"Rattata, keep it up and go for a Quick Bite," Lucas continues his composed instructions as all the Rattata clones blur and home in on Champ.
"Champ! Drop the rocks around you and try to catch it!" I swiftly react, urging Champ to abandon his defensive stance. He lowers his guard, causing the rocks to scatter around him. Most of the Rattata clones vanish just as the real one materializes behind Champ, sinking its teeth into his arm.
Champ winces but immediately grabs Rattata by the neck before it can jump away. Blood dripping from the wound in his arm, he holds the squirming Rattata.
"Rock Smash!" I exclaim with excitement. Instantly, Tyrogue's fist glows orange as it collides with Rattata's head. Then, in a swift motion, Tyrogue draws back its fist and slams it into the Rattata's stomach, releasing its grip on the creature's neck. The force sends the Rattata flying several feet before it crashes heavily onto the ground. The Rattata struggles to its feet momentarily before finally collapsing.
"Good job. That was a zero badge fight," he commends. He recalls his Rattata and takes another Poké Ball from his belt. With a brief button press, a Machop emerges. This Machop has a blue-gray skin tone, humanoid in appearance with its characteristic large red eyes and a flat face, signifying its Fighting type. It's larger and more muscular than the average Machop, and notably, it bears a distinctive three-ridged brown crest on its head. Standing at an imposing three feet tall, it towers over Tyrogue, creating an intense contrast.
"This will be a one badge tier fight," Lucas gives me a grin as I groan internally.