Halfway out, he was met by a small group. Consisting of Corey, with her hair dyed blond again, she definitely leaned into that color more now, already people began calling her the blonde nurse. He felt guilty and exhilarated at the same time. she really made a hot blonde and it made his blood boil with desire as it brought back memories of very wild intimate experiences.
He knew she knew, he was conflicted and kept playfully teasing him on it over the last month. Clearly she enjoyed the power dynamic it gave her.
Surge was next, already giving him the grin off: “can’t wait to tell you how much money we made,” with Miya hanging possessively of his arm.
Oak, Koga, Bruno and lastly Giovanni. Giovanni walked ahead and approached with an amicable smile, extending his hand. His signature Persian was prowling next to him. it was a fearsome creature with a gem on its forehead, that sparkled supernaturally. His Arceus system didn’t show anything. It was a humbling experience.
Everything about this world was a humbling experience. He was constantly told he was a prodigy by people that were giants in their own right. It was an interesting experience to say the least. He wondered darkly why no one even seemed to consider ending him.
”Congratulations on such a quick and decisive victory, Surge informed me you were made aware of the reason behind this match, Allow me to be the first to congratulate you on earning your stripes as a Kanto veteran Pokemon trainer. With such a one sided performance on your part, the official part will be a mere formality.” Giovanni spoke with a deep baritone voice that carried unquestioned authority.
“I will make sure it’s nothing more than a formality.” Is what Giovanni’s facial expression told him.
His eyes flitted to Corey who approached from the side smiling. It dawned on Carlos Giovanni knew that he could read his face. His heart skipped a beat when the man began to playfully show him an Immaculate use of facial expressions saying something along the lines of “You owe me one.”
Carlos pushed all his doubts and bubbling fears about Giovanni’s motivations away and shook his hand smiling wide, still high on his victory.
”I hear I have you to thank for the opportunity, he nodded his head at Giovanni. I owe you one.” He couldn’t completely mask his uncertainty of the possible consequences that would hold for him in the future.
Giovanni smirked and faked ignoring it. Everyone else kept a few strides distance out of respect. “Well I am following your career with great interest. However I must excuse myself, I am a busy man, me and Koga have an engagement with Pryce in an hour, must strike the iron while it’s still hot if you know what I mean.” A Hypno teleported in.
Giovanni, Koga and his Persian disappeared a second later. Koga gave Carlos a respectable nod before disappearing.
”Well the rest of you are all cordially invited for the party!” Carlos forced himself to get distracted. “You ok Carlos?” Corey asked inquisitively. “You seem a bit off.”
”Nah just a bit overwhelmed.” His face said “Let’s talk later” and Corey nodded and let it rest.
Oak was about to protest about the cordial invitation but before he could, Carlos spoke up. I actually have something of interest to show you Professor. A little side project ive been working on in the last month. I could use a fresh pair of eyes to give me an honest analysis.” This seemed to pique the interest of Oak and he nodded. “Let me make a call, lead the way Surge.” He said as he trailed behind calling in home he would be a bit later.
Surge led the group out of the arena and they were greeted by some relentless reporters whom the group promptly ignored.
Although Carlos was used to tense fights back to back, he would be lying if he didn’t feel emotionally a bit hollow. He only had a certain level of tolerance to so much socialization and it was beginning to eat at him.
The worst part was that he had officially a small fan group. They had signs of picture of his Pokemon on it, highly edited and dramatic. He tapped out emotionally when some of the girls of the group screeched his monniker. A pained, “Why?” Is all he could say, which drew snickering from the group.
Surge lead them to a big giant limousine, the first Carlos had seen since coming here. “That must have cost you a pretty fortune.” Carlos drawled. Surge grinned. “After winning big on the bets I can afford to splurge. I bet you would beat that scum with 3 pokemon. The odds were 5 to 1.”
Carlos raised an eyebrow. “Please don’t tell me you bet too big on me.”
Surge raised his hands in mock offense. “Hey even if you hadn’t won like I knew you’d win. I hedged it with a second bet on you beating him with 4, but with ticket sales, selling knickknacks and snacks included, the gym just earned as much as we would have earned in a year. Kid let me treat ya ok? You earned it. Literally.”
Everyone chuckled at that and got in the limo, the reporters yelling and pouting as they got ignored. Carlos zoning out the screeching of his small fanbase as they drove past. It felt weird driving in a Limo. Like he just passed a landmark he hadn’t passed, not in this life or the one before.
Inside Corey held out her hand receiving Gawain’s ball and got her Wigglytuf out of it’s ball, to perform some healing on Gawain. The stout but timid badger got cheered on and patted jovially by everyone in the car for a battle hard fought and won. Although he wasn’t one for attention, these were all people Gawain was familiar with, so he took it all in stride. But he fell asleep quite quickly after he had some really good food.
Bruno spoke up. ”I must say, you finally inspired me to train up a Primeape similarly like you did with yours, it has the Pugilist and Defiant abilities correct?” Carlos nodded.
Miya looked surprised. “Those aren’t exactly great abilities for a Mankey, what made you decide to train it?”
Carlos nodded he was used to it by now. ”I caught Kong almost… well 6-7 months ago? Primarily because I needed a Pokemon at the time, I had none. All I had on hand was a half functional proto-dex, so I had no knowledge of his abilities.”
Miya visibly shuddered at the mention of no Pokemon, the rest didn’t like the prospect either. Carlos kept going.
“Kong is a Pokemon that might appear simple but has a deep comprehension of events and his surroundings, he is a very perceptive Pokemon. I still haven’t quite figured out how he can ignore the rule of 3 with Bide, detect, counter and a few other moves.”
Bruno nodded. ”it’s not something well researched because it does seem to require a specific mindset for the trainer and the Pokemon alike. Pokemon on my Personal team with supposedly lackluster abilities, stand toe to toe with the ones that have near perfect abilities for their species.”
Oak chimed in. “The way you have to see it Miya my dear, is that the greater effect an ability has, the more a Pokemon needs to mesh that into how they learn moves.
A pokemon with an ability that is simple or not that significant, might seem weaker but it allows them to focus more on the moves they learn, growing faster as a result.
The scientific community has determined, with the growing pool of data, that Pokemon with weaker abilities, with the right trainer. Will often develop signature or unique moves far quicker then others of their species, with more powerful abilities. They most certainly learn moves faster as well.”
”Alright! That’s enough theorizing! We are here! No more work! Have fun!” Surge roared.
The Limo stopped in front of a big event building and Surge ushered them in. A massive buffet of all sorts of exotic foods and all the staff of the gym, Lance and Finnley were present, cheering or raising their glasses to the group entering.
The next hour was a whirlwind of good, laid back conversation. People regaling the match and eating good food. Carlos was surprised at how dignified it all felt, especially considering it was Surge and Miya who claimed to have organized it all.
He was surprised it was so tame. Corey huffed, sitting next to him. Letting him know she had a hand in toning the whole thing down to more reasonable levels. Which Carlos was grateful for.
His Pokemon were out of their balls celebrating and mingling in with Pokemon from the staff and everyone else present. Multiple tables of various sizes for the different Pokemon had been set and Human and Pokemon alike had a blast.
After an hour, Corey had to excuse herself. Corey had scolded Carlos a bit about his aggressive and complete lack of decorum on live TV but it hadn’t lasted long. She and the women present were much more interested in teasing him playfully about how he had to deal with the reporter of Pokefleur, a paparazzi outlet focusing on one crazy gossip story after the next.
After Seeing Corey off, he went to the roof to get a bit of quiet. Unlike Surge and Miya, who were extrovert, he was a solid introvert. Without Corey present, he had to calm himself down. She had apologized profusely but she had to go back to work, he understood but it still sucked.
Carlos walked the fire escape stairs to the roof of the building. He was alone which he was grateful for. He managed to tag down professor Oak prior. He still needed the man to look at his findings on the month long telemetry Data he had stored in his Pokedex. “First thing Tomorrow, relax my young friend.” Oak’s words rang in his head. Carlos put it out of his mind. With a drink in hand and a moment of silence, his eyes fell on Mt Silver.
It was incredible that he could see it in the distance. They were hundred’s of miles away but he saw it. He wasn’t supposed to but he did. His vision for one reason or another was a lot better than the average person. 20/20 in this world was about the lowest. Officially anything below, was considered a physical impairment to the same degree as missing an arm or a leg.
He shook his head. This world’s people didn’t know how good they had it. For the first time since coming here he had understood why Surge was so promiscuous. He would rather kill himself than hurt Corey of course but tonight he understood. The women tonight in their various glamorous dresses, looked so… tasty. He shuddered and felt a bit of shame, he refused to become a deviant, crushing that train of intrusive thought.
It came out of the left field for him too, he blamed it on the euphoria of beating Koji. As one sided as the match had seemed, he sometimes questioned what people were thinking, training all their members the same way. Why on earth didn’t Koji teach any of his Pokemon some basic disable moves, was beyond him.
He suddenly remembered how the Pupitar had in fact used something with a disabling effect. Dark Pulse, but Kong’s Noble roar had prevented whatever the effect was.
Putting the match behind him. His eyes drifted back to Mt Silver. Something about that mountain called out to him. A primal need that stirred. He wasn’t stupid. Mt Silver was a no go. Not even Ace trainers were allowed to go there alone.
From what he read online he knew it was suicide for him to go there. The Hollow Mountains were considered dangerous and had life threatening Pokemon. Mt Silver, made the hollow mountains look like a children’s playground in comparison. According to the reports of numerous Ace trainers, that had gone up there in groups for one reason or another.
The lowest Level wild Pokemon they had encountered there, was LvL 60. An all powerful Alpha or Matriarch anywhere else, was at the bottom of the food chain on that mountain.
If you got lost on that mountain, the Rangers wouldn’t even bother doing a Search & Rescue. You were considered a temporary casualty. Just in case you managed to come back. Less then 1 percent did.
Still that primal call was there. It made him think, reflect on what he had done so far. Everything he had done, had been a reaction. Life in this world just sort of threw itself at you. So much to do, so much to experience. Now that he wasn’t forced to fight for his life he came face to face with a bit of a problem.
He had no idea what he should do in this new life.
“What do I wana do?”
He knew. Buy a house somewhere in the middle of nowhere live together with Corey, grow old together and say: “fuck it”, to it al.
All things considered He was content and happy if he was perfectly honest with himself. He was ready to settle down. He was young outwardly but he had the soul of someone of 40 years old, it was already questionable for himself that he was dating a woman barely in her twenties the only reason he could justify it was because Corey was a formidable woman, who could handle the worst of him no problem.
A younger version of him would have jumped at the chance, at going on a Pokemon Journey, getting in heaps of trouble, traveling around talking shit and be an ass.
He shook his head, Corey would never let him live it down if he started the angsty teenager routine.
Not to mention the restlessness of his team. Ugh the guilt on that ate at him.
They hid it well. But their wanderlust was itching. And it woke up a wanderlust in him as well. but besides going on a journey for real, if you could call the grind of facing 18 god damn gyms in a single season a journey, besides running the veteran circuit and reaching the Ace track, he had no idea what he wanted to accomplish beyond that and it bothered him.
He was being passive about his path, going along with the flow a little too easily. Thinking back he had agreed with the proposal of Pryce when he first reached human society far too easily. It was a job, he told himself a well paying job.
This wasn’t a kid’s story where you get free money to go on a Journey. Most kids worked three years prior to their journey to collect funds. He was doing the same. It all made pragmatic sense.
Truth of the matter, he could do his Journey right now, the money was there now. He just checked the money dump Surge had done on his account. He swallowed. He could put everyone into ultra balls, buy one of those fancy bags of holding and eat at fancy restaurants for a year. And still only use half the funds he now had.
He knew that if he really pushed, people would let him. However he didn’t.
Like the decision of his 6th member, the finality of it all bothered him. Locking it in without clearly understanding what that would mean. Unlike others of this world he was incredibly averse to the idea of letting potential members go. Perhaps it was the fact that he could talk to them but he noticed that he bonded incredibly quickly with other Pokemon. The bonding with Corey downright frightened him whenever he spend a little too much time thinking on it.
This quick bonding came with a pretty hefty price too. Surge had already felt like he had no choice and officially handed his latest team to another Gym trainer who would oversee them, this had been the first and last time Carlos had fought with them. Another reason Surge had gone all out on this party, as a way to apologize for a shitty situation.
It sucked but Carlos understood why. They wouldn’t be able to bond as a starter if they stayed with Carlos any longer. It would ruin the chances of any kid who had worked their buts off, to be eligible for one of them in the starter programs Surge was running. There were 3 prospective kids already who had shown some pretty good compatibility with the three. Carlos, as a Gym trainer couldn’t stand in their way.
His thoughts went back to his indecision on his 6th member. There would be no going back he knew that. and thus he kept putting it off.
He was incredibly relieved he didn’t to get stuck testing the rookie track, doing 18 gyms twice over 2 seasons seemed far too grindy for him.
All of these thoughts drove home, how unprepared he felt for what was to come. Team rocket.
The read he got on Giovanni, was not good. The man was formidable, the fact that he had a mask just like the Joy’s and Jennies if not better, frightened him. There was no way in his mind that Team Rocket would be a joke and comic relief like it was in the Anime.
If this world was more in line with the Manga, which he remembered barely anything of. He was royally screwed, this world was Royally screwed. Reid, or the person the manga refered to as Red, the main reason Team Rocket was stopped, was already dead.
Something Carlos instinctively knew wasn’t supposed to have happened. It meant that any scrap of info on the future he had written down, was completely untrustworthy, if Reid could die too early, So could Ash, shit could go down the drain for real. That meant he had to get involved. It forced him to partake in the big things.
Something he had no credible info on. So he couldn’t really ask for help either and to top it all off, Giovanni, seemed to know he was a starchild, happily playing along with the subterfuge, like he didn’t know. That much was clear to a paranoid Carlos. Off course a maffia boss, loved playing poker as long as he knew what everyone’s cards where.
He was sure that Giovanni was the leader of team rocket, the man practically taunted him with it but who else was part of it? Didn’t the manga have like half the Kanto gym leaders involved? or was that still a work in progress?
Wasn’t Koga and Sabrina who was still a kid a big part of it? Would Surge be? He wasn’t emotionally ready for that at all. Surge might be a brazen douche bag, but that was a his outer persona. Somewhere in that skull and chest of his, behind the insufferable smirk, was a swell guy, a bro.
Now that his paranoia was running, there were a few more things that bothered him. What was up with the Jennies and the Joy’s? He was dating one but it didn’t go unnoticed to him, now that Corey had taught him a few things. That something wasn’t right. They seemed to exercise a certain hold on society. Many times whenever he watched a video on something, a podcast. Or anything related to culture or anything important there was a Jenny or Joy weighing in an opinion.
The Jennies were all smiles but every interaction with them, made him a bit anxious, even if he had done nothing wrong. The Joy’s were constantly searching for something amiss in trainers mental state, including him and it was confusing. People in general were foolishly trustworthy for the most part. So why the distrust and caution of those two clans?
Corey loved him, trusted him, he knew that but it hadn’t gone unnoticed that even she monitored him from time to time.
“Alright you are spiraling, seeing shit that isn’t there.” Carlos told himself and took out his Pokedex and browsed the pokenet in order to distract himself.
He looked up the coverage of the press conference and flinched a bit. People had not responded well to his somewhat aggressive banter with Koji. Some calling him the bully. Carlos scoffed. “Can’t complain about it if you ask for it.” He thought darkly.
He smirked, at least the people from Kanto had his back somewhat.
Toto4life
”I know this Sarge guy is blunt and brash and all, considering who he works for. But what a mouth that guy has. Isn’t there some law against that sort of blatant verbal aggression?
MagenialGrass
”Seriously! And what kind of Juice are those Pokemon of his on!!! What were those moves? This is just Kanto showing it’s true colors telling any rookie Johto trainer to stay home. So much for peace and prosperity, bunch of fascists.”
Blast4life
”No, we aren’t fascists and I do believe I speak for all of Kanto when i say: Koji started it.”
This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.
Toto4life
“Sure but Sarge stepped out of line.”
MagenialGrass
”Stepping out of line? That’s a very diplomatic way of saying he crippled a guy’s team! He probably used illegal stuff to juice those Pokemon! No way is a newly evolved Primeape that big!”
Blast4life
“If the reverse happened, and someone from Kanto talked shit about your Gym’s, you would sing a different tune.
That Koji smuck’s insult, was the point of no return for Sarge, he had to respond. However I will extend an olive branch here, Sarge could have handled it better.
Carlos skipped the rest, till he got to the part where they discussed the matches. He didn’t know why but the mere mention of Politics exhausted him.
He was a bit sad, that no one was talking about Finnley at all, Carlos had thought, that fight was far more entertaining/interesting because of how close it had been.
Solidveteran.
”I know we were all expecting Sarge to win, hell the gambling booth’s straight up refused to put out straight winning odds. Everyone saw this coming….
But what the actual fuck was that?”
AceintheMaking.
”I can’t decide which one of those three is scarier. The assassin? Because let’s face it, that Poochyena doesn’t battle, she murders your mon’s painfully. And how broken is that unique move she has? How do you fight that? The only saving grace is that she doesn’t last long.
The titan slayer? Like I know that fighting type pokemon as a whole, are a hard counter to this guys team but what the actual hell? Since when are Primeape’s both speed catchers and wallbreakers combined? How broken is that combination?
Or that totally not meek physically impaired Cyndaquil. that should have fainted but just, kept, going and going. Winning with blue flare? BLUE FLARE!? WHAT?? Don’t get me wrong but it took down a frikking Pupitar!
RockSteady.
”I guess you just can’t touch the Sarge, holy sludgebombs on a wheezing, what is the league thinking putting that guy into the rookie league next year?”
MukMania.
”I heard a rumor this was a ploy from Surge and Giovanni(my man!). To force the issue with the current Champion, Pryce. From what I overheard from some rangers, Pryce basically forced The drill sergeant to work for the gym circuit, then start in the rookie league to test the rookie circuit as a whole, probably didn’t expect him to have enough time to train his own team as a gym trainer. They wanted him to test run all the gyms with his rookie team. Since he is very experienced as a trainer but had a beginner team.
Some say Pryce didn’t want his prized Lorelai against this guy during next season veteran circuit.”
MagnetChad.
“Yea there is no hiding that both Kanto and Johto’s rookie and veteran circuit is still a huge mess, considering the complete disparity shown in this match.
@MukMania. Lorelai just received her starter, a frikkin Cetoddle. so she’s not due for the rookie track, for another three years.”
MukMania.
“@MagnetChad. forget that she’s Johto’s second Whisperer. She’s gonna skip the rookie league working with the rangers instead and no that Cetoddle was given to the champ, by the drill sergeant of all people. Pryce then gave it to his Granddaughter. She’s got a Laprass as a starter, get your facts straight. A simple pokesearch gets you this info.”
Rocksteady.
”God damn, the drill sergeant isn’t just stacked on Pokemon, he’s a natural in making the right connections. Ties with Giovanni AND the champ? What’s next? Lance becomes the next champ?“
PussySlayer69.
”Yea right. if Lance becomes the champ, Kanto might as well un-annex Johto.”
Btw, I don’t know What hurts the Johto pride more, the fact that one of their Veterans got it’s teeth kicked in, or the fact that Sarge did it with two Pokemon native to Johto. That is one hell of a flex.
Carlos had to laugh, that last entry sparked a keyboard war between pokenet warriors on both sides.
His personal issues aside he did remember Lance becoming the champion, only time would tell if that piece if information was legit. From the little bit he had seen of the man’s team, made it clear he was a serious contender.
The fact he took all the missions as a ranger to go up against troublesome wild Ice Pokemon, was a clear indication he was seriously considering and preparing himself.
He had to contain a smirk. The rumor mill was running at top speed. He wasn’t sure how he felt being indebted to Giovanni like this. Because he wasn’t dumb enough to not see, the big fucking favor Giovanni had just done for him. It was what it was. Future Carlos had to deal with that.
Closing his pokedex sighing. And before his eyes could drift back to The speck of dust in the sky he knew to be Mt. Silver, he heard a deep voice behind him. “Here you are, Surge was wondering what the man of the hour is up to.”
Bruno approached Carlos. “I didn’t get to do this before. Congratulations are in order.” Bruno clasped Carlos hand and shook it stoically.
”So, Surge told me you are now part of our small enterprise.” Carlos was not too surprised that Bruno was involved in the bootleg operation. Surge did hang out with Bruno more than he needed to as a Gym Leader.
Carlos nodded. “Turns out it’s rather handy having a Pokemon who has near perfect ice control for more than just battles.” Bruno nodded at that.
Both men stood quietly. Carlos Social anxiety flared for a bit but he soon Recognized a fellow introvert. Both men enjoying the peace and remnants of their drinks.
After a few minutes Bruno broke the silence. “Surge has assured me, you are to be trusted for your discretion and I trust him but I wish to verify that for myself. My gym, minor as it is, would not survive if i didn’t… skirt the lines with my taxes. Surge has the entirety of Vermilion city to support him in case we dry up. however my Gym is stuck in Saffron city. All subsequent support of the city goes to the psychic gym.”
Carlos nodded, and smirked. “I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about officer, to my knowledge both the Electric gym and fighting Gym’s are pillars of their respective communities.” He drawled a pre prepared response. Bruno gave him a thin smile. “Seems that dark typing of yours is rather useful.”
Carlos nodded. “To be fair I would do it just for the opportunity to spite the Jennies.” He responded quietly. Bruno raised an eyebrow to that. “I see that you share Surge’s dislike for the Jennies. How come?”
Carlos shrugged, “Nothing solid, just that they always put me on edge. Ive come to enjoy a certain level of trust with people. People don’t bother locking their doors.
When you accidentally walk into someone’s house, they don’t kick you out, they invite you to sit down and share dinner or a drink.”
”Off course, who wouldn’t?” Bruno said.
Carlos nodded and kept going. “I find myself accidentally walking into people’s houses now because I want to talk to them, the hospitality is so… heartwarming.” Carlos stopped talking looking for the right words.
“Each interaction with the Jennies in contrast, have always been cold. It can be a split second flicker of annoyance of me remembering someone, that did something stupid and if a Jenny is close by they will immediately question what I’m doing.”
Bruno smiled. “That’s their job, to keep the peace. In case you haven’t noticed, you are an above average aggressive fellow, that’s on a good day.”
”Only with punks and idiots.” Carlos joked.
Bruno laughed heartily at that. “That may be but punks and idiots have rights too, including the right to be an idiot. I doubt you never make a mistake.”
Carlos shrugged. “Still it’s not just with me, that I noticed this.”
Bruno nodded. “You have to remember that both the Jennies and Joy’s, according to official records, have been around for Millenia, probably longer. They saw the rise and fall of many societies. They learned observed and both took on a different responsibility in sustaining a healthy society as bystanders.
My late father had similar laments about the Jennies in particular. Something during the war seemed to have caused distrust in the Jenny force to flare and it still hasn’t calmed down. Doubt is a nasty poison of the mind, difficult to get rid of.”
Carlos didn’t respond, it almost felt like Bruno was talking more to him than about the Jennies.
Bruno changed the subject. “Do you have any idea who you would want on your team as your sixth member?”
Carlos shook his head. “No I’m completely stumped on it actually. All things considered I don’t think I need any sort of all round damage. Kong, my primeape is already an absolute powerhouse capable of sweeping. Same goes for my Cyndaquil. I keep bouncing back and forth I honestly have no idea, additionally there is a finality to it, that I’m hesitant about.” Carlos paused.
”Sorry that was a bit or a ramble.”
Bruno shrugged, “so it’s not because you have unrealistic expectations, you simply don’t know?”
Carlos nodded, “yea to be fair the only one I actually aquired in a somewhat normal way was my Pawniard. I wanted a steel type. Everyone else was largely fate.”
Bruno smirked. “Fate huh? That’s rather interesting.”
He enlarged a Pokeball, an Ultra ball. “I have someone that wishes to meet you.”
A smaller than average Hitmonchan materialized and bend down on one knee.
”It is an honor to meet you Sir Carlos.” It spoke regally.
The Hitmon line, were one of the two main fighting starters, many fighting specialists started off with in Kanto. Both the Machamp and Hitmon lines native to the region, were practically speaking, integrated into Kanto society.
The lines between human and these two Pokemon lines was Blurry at best. Both Pokemon lines had human like intelligence and neither were required to have a trainer to hold a job or own property.
Hitmonchan was a very humanoid looking Pokemon. Something akin to a lizard like, bipedal creature. With their signature exoskeletal protusion on their face and shoulders with a simple garb and their signature boxing gloves that they all wore. like the Machoke who wore their belt, to better control their TE.
The hitmonchan wore their boxing gloves to center their mind. It was part of how their species controlled themselves. It was fascinating to Carlos, how anything a Pokemon used, no matter how mundane. became a part of them. the gloves tied together and slung over the neck of the Hitmonchan radiated the same vibrant TE, that his own two makeshift kukri’s back home had.
This Hitmonchan was slimmer and shorter but still very sturdy and fierce looking.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Pokemonart/s/r20DNNdz3a
Some cool fanart of a Hitmonchan. R/Pokemonart has some serious gems.
The Hitmonchan was calm but exuded an intensity that was palpable.
Calm. You are calm under pressure. Some may confuse this with a lack of emotion, those couldn’t be more Wrong.
Iron Fists. You can learn any move with punch or fist in its name. You have 3 additional Cardinal slots for punch moves. Additionally 3 of these moves also become Signature moves. Evolving with you as you become stronger.
Keen Eyes. You have keen senses that manifest in you seeing things others do not perceive, allowing you to avoid and weave through danger. Your Speed and reflexes cannot be altered ignored or reduced in any way by any foreign source.
Fighting Spirit. You were evolved with an evolution stone and this has fundamentally changed you. Practically speaking you are a Pure Fighting Type.
You have better control over your TE than others and may choose to cut cost of any move, requiring a percentage of a move in half. Additionally, Fighting spirit also increases your Defense by 50%.
Bruno looked at Carlos expectantly. “This particular Hitmonchan has been with the Gym for quite a few years. We have kept him on primarily, to show case that Fighting Pokemon can be successfully trained as a technical defensive duelist.
However, not many people set out or plan to use a fighter type trained specifically like this. They want their fighter to hit hard, like your Primeape.”
Carlos observed the Hitmonchan, it was a lot smaller than usual Hitmonchan. Like Loki perhaps even smaller.
The hitmon line and the machamp line, all became pure types since their initial evolutions were unusually predisposed and required the use of a stone. Both in the wild and as a trained Pokemon. But usually trainer and Pokemon waited till lvl 25 before making the choice.
There were a few Machoke’s the second evolution prior to a Machamp and Tyrogue who with training had achieved a natural evolution but this was incredibly rare. The fact that an elite four fighter specialist didn’t bother with it, said enough for most.
Carlos silence was misunderstood by Bruno. “He chose himself, to do the evolution early. Due to his nature, fighting spirit ended up fortifying him making it quite difficult to bring him down but he doesn’t function as well, as a wall breaker due to this.”
”No I would presume he works very well against wall breakers and speedsters instead. however I’m a bit worried my team is rather vulnerable to dragon and flying types.
Bruno shook his head. “You have zero disposition to flying and this disposition will be even worse with psychic, due to your dark typing.
Your best bet is to train your Cyndaquil and Cetoddle to deal with dragons and flying types. To be completely Honest, that fire swift your Cyndaquil demonstrated in your visits to Saffron will be a flying specialists worst nightmare.”
Carlos nodded.
Bruno continued. “Also if your Primeape teaches this Hitmonchan that unique burst move it has, I doubt flying types would be too much of a problem for him.”
Carlos smirked and crouched down. “So tell me, why do you wish to join my team?” The Hitmonchan got up and looked at Carlos. An intensity simmered behind his calm facade. “I wish to join you because you are one of the rare hewmon’s ive seen who think outside the box. The way you trained your Primeape. A Brutish Barbarian who in practical terms, can only rely on his own raw strength, now fights with a raw finesse that make many of my kin, myself included, envious.
Carlos nodded he was impressed with how well spoken the Hitmonchan was. “Do you believe you will be able to carry your weight?” Carlos knew he had already accepted but he wanted to he sure.
Any doubts about this Hitmonchan, began to melt away with how serious he became. “I must defeat that Primeape.”
You will be stuck with me you know? I still have like 6-7 months as a Gym trainer.
Hitmonchan repeated his earlier statement. He was getting more fired up. “I MUST defeat that Primeape.”
“Will you take no for answer?”
The Hitmonchan shook his head. “No! I MUST…”
“Yes, yes I know I accept. Welcome to the team Jackie Chan!” Carlos had to laugh. With the exception of Gwen all his Pokemon were far too serious.
”Jackie Chan?” Bruno asked Curiously. Carlos actually didn’t know either and shrugged. “Idk he strikes me as a Jack.”
”The name itself is irrelevant, what matters is that you honor me with it.” Carlos whistled. “You know I think this guy will fit right in Bruno, if I may ask, why the generosity?”
Bruno quipped a smirk for the first time. “For your continued discretion. Come we should go downstairs. Surge wanted to dump a massive cake on top of you.” Carlos smirked. “He knows I can just dodge it right?” Bruno shrugged. They went downstairs and came upon a room eerily silent. The festive mood gone. Everyone was watching a big screen. The news anchor was regaling an attack on the Psychic Gym in Saffron.
The daughter of the Gym leader, Sabrina was in the intensive care ward, stable but in a coma. Her starter and only Pokemon, an Abra in critical condition a inch away from its life. The interviewer asked a frustrated Jenny if there were any leads.
An old venomous looking woman in the background surrounded by ghost Pokemon was talking to the frantic mother of Sabrina. Nobody knew what had exactly happened but a shaking Gym leader, the father, let it slip that his daughter had been attacked with Pokemon moves. The moment he said it, a collective gasp went through the room. Carlos observed the room. Everyone, Pokemon and human was aghast.
”Who would do such a thing? Miya seemed to be the most upset, she excused herself and dialed a number. While walking out, “Hey mom, just calling checking in, how’s Jessica? Yea I just saw it.”
Carlos turned away from Miya who lit up and sighed in relief talking to her daughter.
The Jenny in charge stopped the interview and told the press that they would bring out a report tomorrow but refused to comment further.
The news channel switched back to the news anchor, who started a heated debate with a psychic specialist who was in the news studio on how this could have happened. How could security have been breached, in what was considered one of the safest places in the league.
One didn’t just step into a building where Psychic’s lived without tripping at least a dozen psychic wards.
Bruno sighed. “I apologize to cut this short, Carlos. Lance! Let’s go!”
Lance nodded and waved for Finnley to come along. All three hurriedly said their goodbyes and left.
With the festive mood destroyed. Carlos took it upon himself to help the staff of the event hall, to package up all the food. Would be a waste of good food and he helped handing it out as people began to head back home.
One of the last ones to leave, was professor Oak. “Won’t they need you Professor?” Carlos asked. Oak shook his head. “No not my area of expertise. Besides I promised I would take a look at your research. How about you send it to me now and I will look it over when I can focus on it properly and get back to you?” Carlos nodded and pokedropped his entire telemetry folder for Oak to go through.
As the last people left and the event hall closed down. Surge scratched his head. “Sorry kid, I had, well Corey had a whole celebration planned, when me and Bruno told her Bruno was planning on presenting that Hitmonchan. Getting your 6th member is a bit of a landmark you know?”
Carlos shrugged, “You can’t plan around these kind of things, the thought counts.”
”Gotta say you don’t seem to be too bothered by it.” Surge searched Carlos face. Carlos was half paying attention.
“One second Surge.”
His team was still in the process of haphazardly introducing themselves. It seemed Hitmonchan hit it off ok. He was calm but stiff in his approach. The rivalry Carlos always thought Kong would engage in with all the others in his team, finally flared to life with Hitmonchan.
They exchanged just a few barbs and the fight was on, they began squaring off instinctively. “You guys can have your grudge match tomorrow with me present. Until then, you will keep your cool, understood?” Carlos stepped closer and put his hands on both their shoulders. “Understood?” Both combatants tensed but nodded by the end.
Carlos turned to Surge. “Sorry about that.” Surge waved him off. Understanding completely.
Carlos breathed in deep. ”Of course what happened is horrible, but I think I am missing a lot of social context, Pokemon using moves on me, isn’t something unique. Nor should it be for you.”
Surge had an uncomfortable pause in his step but he didn’t lose his stride. “Sometimes I think that the people saying you got a screw loose are right. How can you be so casual about that?” He asked in a rare case of showing genuine concern.
”I became numb to it I guess? How about you? What I understand of training Electric Pokemon, you need a certain level of resistance to it. Ive seen you take hits that would knock me out cold.” Carlos countered.
Surge wiggled his hands frowning. “Yea but that’s different, it lacks the intent.”
Carlos had a small epiphany. “Oh so that’s what you mean. No that part I never got used to.”
Surge chuckled. “Good to know you are still somewhat human like the rest of us.”
”Why do you and others keep doing that? Act like I already am a super powerful trainer? When you could sweep my whole team without any difficulty. Hell you could do it with less than 6 moves.”
Surge responded, for the first time he spoke without his usual jovial brash voice but with a calm. Hell, almost vulnerable tone.
“Because I will never stoop that low again. I can’t.”
They walked quietly for a bit. “Sorry for bringing you back to that.” Carlos apologized after a while. Surge clapped him on the shoulders. His usual bravado back.
“Hey man don’t go all sappy on me! It’s Ok shit happens but you push through it and keep going!”
Carlos nodded at that. Once back at the gym, everyone went to bed early. The city, usually buzzing with vibrant chatter was hushed. Someone had attacked a prestigious Gym. Someone had attacked Kanto and gotten away with it, leaving no trace, except a distraught family.
The next day the match between Jackie and Kong went about as one would expect. Now credit where credit was due. Jackie, trained as a defensive duelist, lasted a lot longer than Carlos expected even with the limitations he gave Kong, primarily so he wouldn’t trigger Anger point.
Kong was the better fighter overall, which frustrated Jackie. Jackie was just far too proud to admit his defeat with a disciplined tenacity that rivaled Kong’s ability to hyper focus.
Jackie definitely needed some more offense to balance out his one sided defenses. As good as it was, he fell into a habit of over focusing on defense which worked great as a stall mechanic but it al boiled down to a slug match between two opponents TE. Something Jackie was failing at.
”Ok that’s enough, Jackie I think I know what you will have to work on for the time being. Psych up, recovery and safeguard are the three basic moves I want you to begin training. I have money for the TM’s but I believe in the old fashioned way of move tutoring.” He gave everyone instructions for what to focus on for today. He made Jackie square off against Loki. Diane against Gwen and Kong against Gawain.
His Pokedex pinged. As he looked he saw an email from Pryce congratulating him on becoming an official veteran trainer, with an updated copy of his league contract. “God damn that’s fast, no wonder people like Giovanni.”
Next was Corey who also congratulated him and lastly Oak, who asked if he could come to the Pokecenter.
Carlos responded to all three and let his Pokemon spar for an hour while he himself meditated. He needed to find his center again after all the chaos from yesterday.
after an hour of training, Carlos asked both Gwen and Jackie to come along and Loki and Dianne squared off against each other.
While walking both Gwen and Jackie did a variation of tag. Tag with moves.
Gwen showed Jackie her move dance off. Something the super serious Pokemon didn’t appreciate. He didn’t believe in dancing.
”ima teach you drunken boxing out of spite Jackie, Gwen is a respected member of my team and has won almost all her matches.” Carlos failed hopelessly at trying to keep a straight face.
”Sorcery! Foul Sorcery sir!”Jackie exclaimed.
”No! It’s a dance! HUG!” Gwen sang happily as she initiated the move hug.
”Noooo! Why am is my body not listening?”
Jackie slammed into Gwen, Luckily for him his defense stat was similar to Gwen so neither got really hurt. Nor did he get hurt as she slammed down to cuddle.
”Because you secretly want to hug Jackie.” Carlos snickered at Jackie’s expense.
”Lies! Lies I tell you!” Jackie tried to vainly worm his way out. He was far too tough to get hurt physically, but his pride was another matter.
”There is reason for my madness Jackie. Obviously I am trying to showcase the importance of the move safeguard.”
”Noooo please don’t teach him that!” Gwen yelled upset.
Carlos shrugged. “Sorry Gwen, but as a fighting type he relies primarily on using self buff moves to stay in the game. If he loses that, he stands no chance against psychic and fairy type.”
After rolling Gwen off a relieved Jackie, they walked a bit more before they entered the Pokecenter, with Oak’s Alakazam waiting for them in the lobby.
“Come. My master is waiting.” Carlos nodded and before he finished nodding he was no longer in the Vermillion city Pokecenter. He was standing on a green Pasture, a Huge odd looking Monolith was about 20 paces away and Alakazam hovered and sat down on top.
”My master is inside, awaiting your arrival.”
Carlos nodded and went along with it, still a bit disoriented he walked towards the house/Lab. He couldn’t quite settle on which one it was. Once he rang the doorbell a Gorgeous looking Brunette in her thirties opened the door.
“Ah you must be Carlos! I heard so much about you! I am Delia a friend to the Oak family. Come in Come in! Let me prepare some tea. Oak is waiting for you, second room to the right.”
She practically janked Carlos inside, a bit bewildered Carlos tried to remember why Delia’s name sounded familiar and walked in further after taking his shoes off and entered a home office with desk, computer terminals and all, with a frowning Samuel Oak.
“Ah good morning Carlos. Sorry for the slight bit of Subterfuge. But the walls have ears in other places. Here we can talk. My first question is this, are these files unaltered?”
Carlos nodded. “Yes they are raw. The graphs I put together in the main file are based on the raw data in the telemetry data I collected on how Pokemon’s TE responded, based on which type of Poke ball they were attached to, I wanted your opinion to make sure I wasn’t misreading it.”
”You didn’t.” Oak said. His tone was grave.
Carlos sighed. “That’s what I was afraid of.