Jason and the Fleece of Hoenn
Chapter 1 – Jason
Jason always enjoyed the walk to Viridian Town, especially on a clear day like it was, the sun not yet too hot, the forest scent still in the air. Buff clung to his head, her wings outstretched to keep herself in balance. Around him, the trees of the forest soon gave way to green, open fields and eventually the fields joined the outskirts of town. The wild grass, soft under his feet, was soon replaced by hard, cobbled streets. His world was pleasant, familiar and kind to him, and he loved it.
The walk was his opportunity to think about things. There were questions that he knew there was no point in asking, like who he really was and what Lucario was training him for. Lucario never answered questions like that, but that didn't mean that Jason didn't wonder about them. Whenever he broached the subject to anyone in town, it was pretty clear that no-one knew a thing about him that he already did not know himself. He and Quil seemed to have appeared out of nowhere and were raised from a young age by Lucario. If anyone had the answers, it would be Lucario himself.
Reaching town, he walked the neat, tree-lined streets to the market and headed for the apothecary. In his backpack were small bags of sleep powder, stun spore, forest herbs, and barks and roots of various trees, the sorts of things the people of town could use to make medicine. He would gather them over the days and would bring them into town once or twice a week to trade. Lucario could live happily by himself in the forest, but Jason needed human food and clothes, and other things like books to learn what he couldn't from Lucario.
Jason made his way past the familiar grocers and greengrocers, tailors and smiths, to a small wooden building at the far end of the marketplace.
"Hi Mrs Green," he said with a smile, announcing himself as he walked into the shop. The late morning sun was shining through the window, cheering the drab interior. In front of the entrance stood a bench, behind which were shelves full of jars with ointments, liquids and powders of different colours. The one thing that always caught his attention the most was the smell. It was not entirely unpleasant, but the combined smell of all those substances wasn't easily ignored.
"Is that you, Jason?" a voice called out from an open doorway behind the bench.
"Yep, it's me, and I've good stuff for you today." Jason opened his backpack, took out an array of small packages and lined them up neatly on the counter.
Mrs Green walked out of the back room and set her eyes on him.
"My, Jason, how you've grown," said the elderly lady. She immediately began to examine the goods but continued their conversation. "And all that muscle you've put on lately! What have you been up to? With those beautiful curls of yours, I bet the girls around town are starting to notice you." She glanced up, a smile creasing her elderly face.
That comment set Jason thinking. Jason had noticed how for the last couple of years, he started finding girls … it was difficult to find the right words, but he found them enjoyable to look at. He had been wondering why he was like that, and, since he only had occasional contact with other children his age, he had no idea whether it was just him or whether it happened to other boys. But the apothecary's comment made him think for the first time that perhaps the opposite was true too. Maybe girls enjoyed looking at him. He wasn't sure what it all meant, but Mrs Green continued talking and he couldn't maintain that train of thought.
"There's a lot of good material I could use here, Jason," she said. "You haven't been working that butterfree of yours too hard, have you?" She glanced at Buff, still perched on Jason's head.
"Oh you mean the sleep powder and stuff? Not at all. She doesn't mind, do you Buff?" He looked up at her and patted her. Buff whinnied happily in reply.
"Just to think that I was helping to feed you … what was it?" Mrs Green looked at him admiringly. "Nearly fourteen years ago now?"
Jason was surprised. He knew that Mrs Green was friends with him and Lucario for as long as he could remember, but he never knew that she had ever fed him.
"Oh, did I surprise you?" she said apologetically. "I never knew that you didn't know that."
"Uh … I guess I never thought about it. I mean, I don't remember a time when I didn't feed myself. I guess now that you made me think of it, when I was a hatchling I couldn't have."
"Then sit down, I'll tell you about it." Jason, eager to find out anything about his past, pulled up an old rickety wooden chair that was there for customers. It creaked as he sat down. Buff flew down off his head and started nosing curiously about the shop. "I remember the first day you came. Lucario rushed into town carrying you in his arms and saying he had a baby to look after. He wanted a human mother to tell him what to do. In the end, it was me who ended up helping him. I was the only one in town who knew how to make a substitute milk. And I taught him how to change your nappy. I still can't forget how much you stunk the first time I set my eyes on you. You hadn't been changed all day, and your bottom was as red as a tamato!"
Jason suddenly felt his cheeks flush with embarrassment. He hoped they weren't as red as his bottom evidently had been.
"But you were a beautiful baby, with bright blue eyes, and you still have those lovely blond locks," she went on. "Anyway, I had to look after you until my husband finished building you a place to stay in the forest. After that, in those early days, Lucario would often bring you in to me to help him, and to get more milk. I often enjoyed feeding you myself. You should be very grateful to Lucario, taking on a human baby like that. You were a lot of work!"
Jason looked at her, letting every word soak in, and making a mental note never to forget how grateful he should be.
"I know I've asked you before," he ventured, "but do you have any idea who I am or where I came from?" He looked at her with eyes wide open, hoping for any clue that might answer his questions about himself.
"Ah, my boy," she answered, shaking a wrinkled finger at him, "Lucario was tight-lipped about your origin. I suspect he doesn't know much, but he's not letting on about what he does know. When I asked, all he said was that if there were any secrets, they were secret to keep you safe."
He scrunched his face. "Keep me safe? From what?"
"Ah, there you go again." She returned to looking at the goods Jason had brought in and started measuring them on a scale. "If there are secrets, they're there to keep you safe."
"Is that all you know? Was there anything else that might be a clue?"
Mrs Green looked hesitant about saying anything else. In fact, she reminded him of how Lucario was when Jason used to press him for answers. She gave up on measuring and went to the money box and took out some coins.
"Here, get yourself some food and whatever else you need." Her voice was not unkind in the least, just firm and resolute.
Jason knew there was no point pursuing the matter now. He'd just have to try again next time. He got up, took the money, thanked her and walked out the door.
Buff followed him out and fluttered herself back to perch on his head.
- – — – -
Jason examined his situation carefully. They were in a small clearing, the ground covered with sticks, stones and sparse vegetation. Around them was the forest. Buff was up ahead, imprisoned beneath a branch too heavy for her to lift. She had been trapped there by Lucario, whose blue and black form was now standing about half way between Jason and his butterfree. Piercing red eyes on either side of his snout conveyed Lucario's intelligence and determination. Quil was standing on all fours next to Jason, ready for his command. He had to act quickly.
"Ember!"
Quil aimed a burst of flame from his mouth. Jason knew how strong Lucario was. Against such an opponent, Jason would have preferred a stronger attack, but he didn't want to set the forest on fire. Furthermore, a direct physical attack would not work on Lucario, who was much tougher than Quil.
The burst was well aimed, but with an agile sideways step, Lucario dodged and retaliated in a flash with an aura sphere. Quil's flame dissipated in the air, missing its target by inches, but the quilava was not so lucky. He withstood the attack, but was sent skidding back. Digging his heels in, he managed to stay upright, but even Lucario's long-range attacks were a force to be reckoned with.
"Hang in there, Quil!"
Lucario took advantage of the quilava's momentary shock and issued a dragon pulse. The near-invisible shock wave knocked Quil off his feet and he landed heavily on the rough ground.
Jason didn't know what to do. He needed to rescue his butterfree, whom Lucario held captive, but Lucario was too formidable a foe. So many years of training with Quil, and, momentarily, Jason was doubted whether it had been worth it.
But the doubt vanished as quickly as it had come. Without taking his sight off his opponent, Jason noticed Quil's headflames bursting into life in the corner of his eye, letting him know that Quil was back on his feet. Yet he was unsure what to do. To wait would mean that Lucario could get in another attack. To go first again, Lucario would surely dodge. Yet he also knew that indecision was an even worse enemy.
Suddenly, Lucario had sprung up and was rushing over, closing the distance rapidly. It looked like a physical attack. Jason knew what to do.
"Quick attack!"
If Quil got in first, Lucario would be knocked off balance. All Jason needed was a lucky break, enough to keep Lucario occupied with Quil while he dashed up and freed Buff. Then she could fly away while he and Quil made their escape into the forest.
Surprisingly fast for his small, portly frame, Quil's short legs carried him at incredible speed towards his opponent. As if he could read the quilava's movements, Lucario skilfully dodged the attack again, and without waiting for Quil to regain his balance, whacked him with a close combat from behind.
Quil smashed into the ground, scattering twigs and stones. Jason had not expected this turn of events. This was it. He was sure that this would lose him the fight. Nothing could stop Lucario from coming directly for Jason now, and it would be the end.
Jason fell on his hands and knees, dismayed and, for the first time in his life, demoralized. He sat motionless, staring at the ground.
Leaving Quil in the dust, Lucario strode over to Jason and stood over him, his arms akimbo, casting a shadow over him.
"Get up!" Lucario said to him.
"What's the use, you've won," Jason replied. The dejectedness in his tone was obvious. He stood up anyway and kicked the dirt in frustration.
"Attend to your Pokémon," Lucario barked. "Both of them. We'll train again tomorrow."
Jason looked at Lucario, the one who had raised him from childhood, to whom he owed his life, his upbringing, everything he was and every skill he had. It was second nature for him to obey. But in the last few months, as the training had gotten more serious, he had failed almost every test such as the one today. He didn't mind at first, always confident that he'd do better next time, that it was only a matter of time before he would improve. But over the last few days, the incessant defeats had gradually built up into a discouragement that even his optimistic nature couldn't shake.
"I can't do any more," Jason replied, kicking the ground even harder and sending dust and pebbles flying. He shook his head. "I'll never be as good as you. I've failed."
Lucario looked straight at him, his stern expression melting away. "You're doing better than you think. Don't forget that I cheat."
Jason knew that Lucario's was speaking of his rare ability to detect aura, to read his opponents more closely than they often knew themselves.
"Don't worry, Jason," Lucario continued, "you are improving. Remember how you were this time last year?"
Jason thought back, and it was true. A year ago, Quil would have taken more than twice as long to respond to his commands, and Jason himself was indecisive in battle. Thinking objectively, his quick attack was faster now, and his aim with his fire attacks had improved immensely. Even Buff had improved since when she became a butterfree two years ago. She was no fighter, but she learned moves of strategic value.
Jason breathed a sigh and stood up straight, his confidence reasserting itself. Only this time, it was a qualified confidence: some enemies he could beat and some he couldn't. Maybe he should focus on learning the difference.
Following Lucario's command, he walked up to Buff and lifted the heavy branch off her. Then he and Buff returned to help Quil, but the quilava was already back on his feet.
"Perhaps I've pushed you too hard lately, but I don't know how much time you have left. Anyway, take a rest, that's enough for today. Go wash and meet me back at the cabin."
- – — – -
Jason and Quil sat next to the stream to dry. It was almost evening, so there was not much sun to warm him. Buff came up behind him and licked some of the water off his back to help, but all it did was tickle. Eventually, he was dry enough to slip his shirt and pants back on, and started back home.
Buff as usual flew up and landed on his head. She had started riding on his head when she was a caterpie, soon after they first discovered each other and found they enjoyed playing together. He fondly recalled all his laughter at her silly antics. Then as a metapod, Jason didn't have the heart to leave her immobile, so he made a backpack for her to ride in. When she evolved to a butterfree, things changed. She became more mature, more serious. But at the same time Lucario also started training Jason and Quil more seriously and Jason had to leave his childish games behind. To Jason, it felt like the three of them had grown up together like brothers and sisters, and they were as much a family as Jason would ever have.
Arriving back at the spartan, one-room log cabin he called home, Quil immediately leapt for his mat and lay down for a nap. Jason left him alone and plopped himself into his bed. He stretched out his limbs and felt himself relax. It was getting late. Tired as he was from the long walk to town and back and the training that followed, he was glad that Lucario had promised to make dinner. Jason was finding that he was starting to prefer his own cooking, but with exercise and training filling up most of his available time now, it was good that they shared the task.
Thinking about that, Jason realized that Lucario should have been there getting some food ready, but he was neither in the cabin, nor had he noticed him outside. Feeling worried, Jason jumped out of bed, went back outside and looked around.
Living in a forest had the disadvantage that you couldn't see far. Even after climbing to the top of a tree, most of what you see is treetops. Lucario wouldn't get lost, but if he was somehow in trouble, it would be difficult to find him. Not wanting to disturb Quil, he called Buff outside before asking her to fly around to see if she could find Lucario.
Fortunately, within a few minutes, Buff and Lucario came back together.
"Jason," said Lucario, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to worry you. I knew you'd be back soon but I lost track of the time."
"You what?" Jason queried. "Since when have you ever lost track of time?"
"When I have much to think about," Lucario answered and entered the cabin. He picked up what looked like a straight wooden stick off the table, which Jason was too tired to notice when he had come in.
"It's hollow," said Lucario as he passed it to Jason. "You'll find that you can open it at one end. There's a note inside. Can you please read it to me?"
Jason took it as he was told.
"How did it get here?" he asked as he worked out how to open it, trying first one end, then the other.
"A pidgey delivered it just as I came back after your training session."
Jason finally extracted the note from the hollowed out stick and unrolled it. Fortunately, Lucario had the foresight to realize that Jason should know how to read and write, but even so, without having had constant daily practice, Jason took some time in forming the characters into words.
"'To Luc … ar … io,'" Jason read aloud slowly. "It's addressed to you!"
"Read on," replied Lucario. "I've been expecting a delivery such as this, since the day you arrived. One that will answer your questions. Let's hope that the news is good."
At the sound of that, Jason stared at the glyphs on the paper and continued reading more eagerly than he had ever read in his life.
"'To Lucario,'" he repeated, "'I hope this finds you and your boy in good hee …' No, it's 'health' … 'in good health. Our sit … u … ation …' Yeah, it's 'our situation … is getting worse. You must send him now.'"
Jason stared at the note with disgust.
"That's the end. It doesn't answer anything," he said. "I suppose it's talking about me—I have to go somewhere. Where do I have to go? Why? Who sent it? Lucario, this only makes me ask more questions!" In frustration, Jason flicked the note back onto the table.
"Settle down," said Lucario, "settle down. We're both tired and hungry. I'll make dinner. After that, I'll tell you everything."
