On the Art of Persuasion

In order to unlock the full potential of Pokemon, we must determine from where this power comes. Popular beliefs include trust and the bond between creature and trainer. I did not become a part of Team Plasma because I believed in this rubbish. I left Team Plasma because of it.

Has it been so long since we parted? It doesn't seem so. With so much power, you must have influenced many more than only me, influenced them to see how to achieve power, boundless power, from their battling partners. The first time I heard of your fighting prowess, I merely shrugged it off as coincidence, luck, perhaps careful selection. Even when I witnessed it for myself, I didn't bother to entertain the thought of anything more than chance or particularly powerful strains of species. You slowly crept up on me. I didn't notice it until the thought had been subconsciously impressed upon my mind. Perhaps...there was some merit to popular belief. I began further experimentation.

For some time before we formally met, I had already been testing the waters of previously undiscovered potential through countless trials and errors. When comparing affection with bursts of radioactivity, I had come to the conclusion that this "love and kindness" that many spoke of was not, in fact, more effective than its artificial counterpart. Id est, a Pokemon subjected to an electromagnetic pulse emitted would prove better on the battlefield than one raised with fondness alone. Regrettably, no foray into experimentation involving trials with both practices has been done. As a leader in such matters, I have only myself to blame.

The energising remote prototype I lent to you was a success and the predecessor to the EM pulse generator. I'm certain you've kept it safe with you after all this time? The idea was one that came about while we toyed with the notion of remotely controlling Pokemon. The first attempts were failures, needless to say, and we nearly gave up. I'm proud to say we kept at it until we arrived at the current design. From that, we began our attempt to achieve a hidden potential for Pokemon, using radiation. Difficulties were overcome. Progress was made. The final product was a success. Minor complications were present in some types, but those could often be easily overlooked. You, unfortunately, were not present as a witness to this victory in the science field.

When we met, I assumed you were just another one of the fools who didn't know any better (after all, our experiments were undisclosed to the public). Unless you had gotten ahold of something similar to our design, you couldn't have convinced me otherwise, much less matched our methods. With the final adjournment of Team Plasma at your hands, I began to see things differently. Yes, perhaps the old-fashioned ways could be effective in unlocking potential, I had mused upon seeing your proficiency as a trainer and a battler. But "perhaps" was not enough. I needed certainty.

As we continued to meet and battle, I found myself drawn to you. Could you be the missing piece, the conclusive evidence of trust's power? I urged you on to become a better trainer, to form stronger bonds with your Pokemon than ever before. I made note of every move, every opponent, every power. Right before my eyes, your partners became stronger than any wild Pokemon at corresponding. I hope you'll forgive me for my unorthodox testing method.

So, what I once passed off to be rubbish, I may believe in, at least some. And for that, I thank you.


[Huh? What's this? There appear to be some cryptic notes written here on the opposite side of the page... Most are illegible.]

December 15 XXXX

How to strengthen Pokemon power? ... Greater potential than appears to be. First subject acquired - M5961. Will commence testing ...

December 18 XXXX

Subject F6141 acquired. Both responding well to affectionate training. 30% potential estimate. Some other way to bring out power? ...

December 23 XXXX

F5451 and M5452 brought in for testing. Biopsy? Perhaps try radiation ... Must begin construction [Vague sketches are scattered about the margins of the page]

March 5 XXXX

Tested radiation theory; machine completed. Success with UV? Bell curve Missing something More possible

Radio: 10% IN
Micro: 28% IN
Ultraviolet: 52% IN
X: 4% DE
Gamma: FAILURE - SUBJECT LOST [illegible writing is scribbled around]

June 2 XXXX

... Subject M3143 lost - handling difficulties. Less energy to be applied? ...

July 17 XXXX

F5451 ... unprecedented growth detected. Perhaps benign. Possible complication? Biopsy scheduled ...

July 19 XXXX

Malignancy confirmed. Loss of F5451. Will be replaced shortly ... Radiation cause? Must monitor others carefully

July 28 XXXX

Similar growth detected in M5452 ... species? ... Test immediately

August 2 XXXX

Hypothesis confirmed, Malignant tumours associated with ... type. Loss of M5452 and M5961. Other types affected? ... obtain various testing ...

August 19 XXXX

Alarming number of types affected ... Bug, Grass, Psychic, Normal, ... Dragon, Water ... Faery? Will import and test

August 20 XXXX

HIGH RISK NO FURTHER TESTING SCHEDULED

[The page ends here...]


A/N: I don't know, the notes idea was kind of spontaneous. I consider putting the entire thing like that (Perhaps Colress had sent it by accident?), but I figured someone would raise Cain over that. I settled for a second separate section.

Idea credit goes to Spottedeyes. Thank you!