The next morning Cedric woke up earlier than usual. He didn't get much sleep during the night and had trouble falling asleep because he had too much on his mind. He went downstairs to snack on whatever he could find. He glanced at the clock in the kitchen. It was 4:17. He made a mental not that his mom wouldn't be up for another three and a half hours. He proceeded to rummage through the fridge, but there wasn't anything he found appetizing. He shut the fridge door and went to the living room.

He stopped mid-stride. The box was still there in the same spot as last night. He sat down in front of it, only staring at it. He read the note a few times over, sitting in silence for ten minutes. It was for him… he may as well open it. It was probably nothing important. His fingers nimbly danced across the cardboard box, searching for a crease to rip open. He found it on the bottom of the box and tore it open carefully. There was another note that fell out. He picked it up and read it before bothering to investigate the contents of the box any further.

Cedric… I'm sorry. I had to do it. Our family would have been in greater danger if we didn't agree to this. The job you're going to have is most likely as a field agent. That's where they started me at. Once you prove you have more potential than that, they will most likely give you a different job. Hopefully, this Pokémon will make your job a little easier. Do whatever your boss says, even if it-

The note stopped there. The writing was really sloppy and rushed. Cedric had seen a few documents that had his dad's handwriting on them and this was way too messy. But… who else would look out for him other than his dad? He picked up the Pokéball gingerly. His fist Pokémon… from his dad… the dad that left him…

He placed the Pokéball back in the box and went back upstairs. He didn't want anything to do with that stupid organization. They didn't sound… right to him.

He tried to get his mind off of everything that was happening by playing videogames. He supposed it worked until he was interrupted by another message. Suddenly, his T.V. powered down in the middle of his game. It came back on, but it was no longer his game on the television.

"You need to report for duty at exactly eight a.m." the man who appeared on his television stated, adding, "And, if you don't show up, there will be consequences."

Cedric suddenly had a bunch of questions for this guy. He couldn't manage to utter a word because of the overwhelming rush of emotions. The most dominant of these was anger. Before he could yell at the man to let his dad go, he vanished from the screen. He panted rapidly as rage took over. He wanted to take out his anger on that man, but the only evidence that he had even been there on his television, was the fact that his T.V. didn't work anymore.

Cedric could only collapse to the floor. He fought back tears as he sat on his hands and knees. He quickly composed himself, telling himself that real men don't cry. He looked up at the clock, which was a little blurry because of the tears trying to escape out of his tear ducts. It was 6:45. His mom would be up in soon.

He went downstairs again because the person who had showed up on his T.V. had freaked him out a bit. Plus, his T.V. in his room didn't work anymore. He seated himself on the couch directly in front of the television in the living room. He refrained from turning it on, partly because he thought that the man would show up on this T.V. too if he turned it on. Mostly, it was because he felt as if someone was… watching him. He turned around to see if his suspicions were valid, but there was no one there. The box. It was still there… open… calling to him…-

"Hello Cedric, good morning," his mom called from the stairs.

"Hey mom."

"Shouldn't you be… uh… getting ready?" she asked.

She knew? No… no, there's no way she knew that there was another message this morning on his T.V.

"Oh, that…" He thought back to what the message said. "Eight o' clock."

"Well, its 7:49 right now… are you ready for this?"

Cedric was done trying to hold it in. After his mom had been completely out of it for half of his life, he finally had someone to be there for him in his time of need. He ran into her arms, almost knocking over a lamp in his clumsiness. He embraced her, almost tackling her to the ground. He was bigger than her now. He wasn't a little kid anymore, yet he still felt like one.

"Mom, I don't want to do this! Didn't dad leave to keep them away from us? Well they're getting me anyways! And- they can't make me… they can't- mom…" He sank down to his knees. The severity of the whole situation finally sank in, and he knew the answers to all of his questions now. He had to do it. They still hadn't taken his mom away and he needed to keep her safe no matter what.

"Mom," he whimpered, looking up into his mother's eyes. "I'll do it… for you…" He got up to his feet, albeit a little shakily. He still didn't like the idea of these people pretty much running his life.

He turned to walk out the door, but his mom called after him, "Wait up, you forgot something." He turned and to his surprise, she was holding the box.

"But mom-"

"No, trust me. If Arnold gave you this, you'll need it."

"Fine." He snatched the box out of her hands and pulled the Pokéball out of it. He tossed it in his bag and looked up at his mom. "Mom…" He paused, "… I love you." It feels so good to finally be able to say that and have her listen. "I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too, Cedric," she whispered, wiping away a tear. He walked out the door and was blinded by the light.