The duo walked through Viridian City, passing by and waving to the elderly and young as they made their way into the forest. In the past, Viridian was well known as being a sort of retirement place for ex-trainers in tandem with Pallet town. With the last and strongest of the region's eight gyms being located here as well as the road to the Pokemon League, it wasn't hard to imagine why. But after the laws were passed that forced young teens to set off on their journeys so long as they already had a Pokemon, Viridian began to blossom as a starting point for all people interested in the life of a trainer. The Viridian preschool was often visited by Professor Oak as well as a few notable trainers who had made it to the Pokemon League and taken the challenge.
Many of the trainers who had retired here had Pokemon strong enough that they could take on any challenge thrown their way, hence the lack of an actual police force in the city. Viridian was small, but it was rapidly growing and expanding. In order to keep up with the growth, the Mayor had funded the building of a battle complex where the guardians of the city could go to practice with the young as well as each other so that they wouldn't grow rusty. Jack had never been himself, seeing as how he lacked an actual 'tamed' Pokemon to enter with, but the people of the city never looked down on him for it. Many of them understood the bond that he and Lappe shared, and at times would even express their regret for not having been able to form bonds more like his in their youth. Nobody here ever really talked about the news, as relatable as it was for them. Most just didn't seem to really care for one reason or the other. Maybe they were just tired of always having to fight against something. Either way, they were happy to gather and see the trainer off on his journey regardless of how he or they truly felt about it.
As the two neared the forest and the sounds of the village faded into the background, the appearance of wild Pokemon increased exponentially. It was as if they'd stepped into another world. There were no more people out here. Buildings were replaced with trees which reached to the sky, and itchy grass which tickled the boy's thighs. Bug-type Pokemon crawled up and down trees, camouflaging themselves with the leaves and bark. Beedrill and Butterfree flew overhead as their brethren hatched from their cocoons and rose into the skies with them. The beauty of the world began to overwhelm Jack, but with the sense of awe there also came stressful thoughts and the feeling that at any moment they could be attacked by these overwhelming numbers of Pokemon. He remembered one lecture that the Professor had given about the strengths and weaknesses of the Bug-types. While not all that powerful individually, they traveled in swarms that at times reached into the hundreds and could easily overpower any single Pokemon.
"Hey man, don't worry about them. They won't attack unless I like, start freaking out or something." Totodile patted Jack's shoulder, trying to comfort him.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, since you never actually put me into a ball I don't have that 'domesticated scent' that sets them off so often. It's some kind of chemical or side effect of the hypnotism that occurs when we're captured in Pokeballs. The reason that people see Bug Pokemon as so violent is because of these chemicals. Most Pokemon aren't educated due to their lack of rights, which means they never learn about these chemicals and how to discern between them and the pheromones emitted by a Pokemon attempting to impede on their territory. Due to our lack of rights, we have to rely on experienced family members and friends to educate us on the ways that the world works. Bug Pokemon live relatively short lives compared to other types, which means that there's less elderly Pokemon to educate them on the difference in these scents as well. Take me for example, my father was a tamed Pokemon, but he was tamed back when people still used Apricorns to make balls naturally instead of using the mass produced ones. He could discern between the aromas of an enraged wild Pokemon and that of his companions who were captured with one of those mass produced balls. Some Pokemon live much longer lives which lets them pass on more information, while others live for days at a time which ensures they never learn or pass on a single thing."
"And I suppose you think that you're different from all the others, don't you?" A voice called out from above the trees, scattering the hordes of bug Pokemon as it did.
"Who's out there?" Jack's head spun as if on a swivel as he and Lappe searched for the source of the voice.
A massive shadow formed over the two as a Pokemon sped towards them in a nose dive. Just narrowly missing the trainer, the Pokemon leveled out and flew parallel with the ground as it spun around a tree off on the distance and disappeared.
"W-what is that?" Jack muttered under his breath as he stared, mesmerized, into the Pokemon's piercing red eyes.
Stepping out from its cover in the underbrush, the Pokemon fanned its wings out wide showing off its plumage in its fullest glory.
"I am West, the Pidgeotto! I am a free bird, un-caged and with un-clipped wings I fly high above all others of my kind! This is why I was noticed by my master, Mewtwo and brought into the FKPR. I fly high in the skies and gather information from all places for my leader, but as I was flying over you two I couldn't help but overhear this traitorous hypocrite speak."
"Dude I'm neither traitor nor a hypocrite, I'm just me doing my own thing. I don't exactly care about the federation or whatever, so if you don't mind moving out of the way we're going to continue on our merry little way so we can get back to chilling at home soon."
"Your own thing? Blasphemous. You're merely parading around as if you have a will of your own. If your trainer was attacked, you would be forced to jump in and protect him. To this, I will happily demonstrate."
West began to flap his wings, throwing up mighty gusts of wind at Jack as he shielded his face and backed up against a nearby tree. Incisions began to form along the trunk of the tree starting from the top and moving down towards the boy's head. Branches flew off in every which direction and leaves were turned to dust with the piercing blades of wind being thrown at the trainer. Lappe jumped up and shook his head in a circular motion as bubbles spewed forth from it, colliding with the blades of wind and exploding midair.
"Do you see? Due to your inability to see your trainer harmed, you have been proven to be domesticated! You have no more free will than those of our brothers and sisters who have been trapped inside those balls by these monsters and you're a fool to think otherwise! Now come with me my Totodile, join our cause and be truly free once more!"
Lappe looked up at Jack and the incisions in the tree which had come within inches of scalping the boy. The Pokemon shook his head and then stared back at the Pidgeotto with a frown on his face.
"You've got it all wrong West. The reason I protected Jack is because we're friends with a mutual understanding. It's not his perogative to steal anything from me or any other Pokemon. He knows and can comprehend how we feel, he understands what it's like to be forced into doing something… becoming something that you just can't stand! This journey wasn't his choice, and if we could help it then we'd both still just be sitting at home watching Sailor Gardevoir, Pokeformers, or even the news!"
"Then, it's worse than I had first thought." West moved forward, closing the distance between himself and the Totodile. "Not only are you domesticated, but you're not even a pet to him. All you are is a showpiece. You sit in his home, as much a 'wild Pokemon' as you can think and wait for his friends or parents to come in and gawk! He's thrilled at the thought of having tamed you so that you can't even realize the position that you're in!"
"That's enough!" Jack rushed up to the Pidgeotto and slammed his fist into the bird's chest, barely making the Pokemon flinch.
"What are you doing? You dare to have the aud-" West was cut off as his beak was filled with water from Lappe's mouth.
"Stay away from my friend!" The duo screamed out at the Pokemon before lashing out at the Pidgeotto once more with bubbles and fists.
West took a few steps back, caught off guard by the assault and irritated by the hindrance to his vision.
"So be it!" The Pokemon screamed out as he rose into the air, taking roost in a high up branch. "If you want to fight me, then continue to fight! There will be no turning back for you! Travel on, fulfill your petty quest and find me once you're no longer a simple nuisance!" The Pokemon plucked a feather from its wing and quickly snapped its neck in the direction of the forest's entrance. "Ratatta! Ratticate! Seal up the entrance! Ensure that there is no retreat for them. They've lost that privilege. If they both wish to continue this farce, then so be it."
From all over the forest, the rodent Pokemon jumped from the grass in which they were hiding and began to gnaw at the base of the trees which stood at the entrance of the woods. In a matter of seconds, a wall of felled trees formed in front of the forest's entrance ensuring that nobody could enter or leave until they were done away with.
"Your pain and suffering has only begun. From now, the only direction is forward. No longer will others perceive you as a wild Pokemon Lappe. I will ensure that all of Kanto knows of your treachery, and that every step that you take is filled with peril. Soon, you will beg me to forgive your insolence and to allow you into the Republic."
"And I'll still turn you down. I don't really know what you want out of me man, but closing up the entrance to this place was a real dick move y'know? What if there's like, a sick Pokemon or something in Pewter that needs to get through here or something?"
"That's not my problem any longer. I am returning now to my master with news of a traitorous Pokemon making his way to him. I am sure that Mewtwo will have a punishment set aside for you when you finally arrive."
"But I don't have any intention of heading to your base? I just really don't think you're picking up what I'm putting down. Maybe it's because we're not playing with the same amount of cards."
"That's enough out of you. Soon you will see the fruit of my labors. Soon, we will no longer be mocked by humans or Pokemon like you. Farewell, for now."
West rose high into the sky, disappearing into the clouds. The duo stared at the Pidgeotto as it flew away, both wondering what was wrong with Pokemon. Jack shook his head and lifted Lappe back onto his shoulder, allowing the Pokemon to retake its position in his bag. Soon after, the swarms of bugs returned to their formations and flew around peacefully. It was as if nothing had ever happened, but for the humans and this duo, it was only the beginning.
