Diverging Chapter 10: Metagross' Pursuit of Knowledge

Location: Canalave City

Date: ?

Time: Night

The time period is during Team Liberator, back when Metagross was a Metang that freshly evolved from a Beldum.

During this particular day in their makeshift organization of thirteen Pokémon, Metang was paired up with Tyranitar to release Pokémon around the area, around Iron Island in particular.

"Tell me, Metang." Tyranitar began to boast with raised arms as they both walked down Canalave City's trademark bridge. "Can you swim, or would you sink like a stone?"

"Based on my weight and overall metallic density, I'd most likely sink like a stone." Metang said with a vocabulary that properly reflected his recent ascension, before sensing Tyranitar's boasting. "And you're only telling me this because you no longer do."

"I tell you, there's nothing more satisfying than hanging six and flipping two as I SURF past the locals of this place." Tyranitar spoke conceitedly. "The look people and Pokémon alike give me, as they see me defying the laws of physics, brings about a greater satisfaction than crushing them under my feet or with a slab of solid rock."

"You're still as brutish as always, Tyranitar." Metang commented, having spent more than enough time with Tyranitar to determine this. "Our trip to the Canalave Library will do us both good in expanding our intellect."

"Tch, do we have to go there?" Tyranitar's arms dropped and he groaned like an oversized child.

"Yes." Metang reminded the Armor Pokémon. "Xeno's orders. He feels as though a Pokémon such as yourself will better manipulate his own physical strength if he takes the time to learn a new tactic or two."

"…" Tyranitar wasn't sure if Metang was discreetly insulting him or not, or if Xeno was calling him stupid. But even he knew that learning new ways to kill others in combat would ultimately keep him from growing bored. "I suppose throwing rocks and chains of darkness does get tedious after a while, especially when most opponents I face can barely graze me."

"…That's the spirit?" Metang responded hesitantly, before turning his gaze over to the library near the end of the bridge.

Location: Canalave City (Canalave Library)

Upon reaching Canalave Library this late at night, both Pokémon proceeded to the door, Tyranitar expecting it to be open. But after forcefully jittering the door to the point of nearly breaking off its knob, Tyranitar came to a dexterous conclusion.

"…Locked." Tyranitar uttered before about-facing, stepping back a few feet, then turning around with battering intent. "Oh well. Shit happens. I just hope the owner of this building has Tyranitar insurance!"

Tyranitar was two steps away from charging forward and breaking the pair of doors like an oversized toothpick, only for Metang to step between the two of them and unlock the doors by manipulating the tumblers of the doorknob with a telekinetic key. Then, Metang psychically peered in further and pressed a button to turn off the alarm system. And if there was a surveillance system, then Metang would've taken a bit longer than a single second.

"You're no fun…"

"That can't be helped when our opinions of fun differ." Metang retorted.

With the door open, and almost all of the local residents going to sleep for the night, both Metang and Tyranitar entered Canalave Library and closed the doors behind them without arousing any suspicion towards themselves. Once inside, the hundreds of visible shelves and tens of thousands of hardcover books lining them greatly deterred Tyranitar, while making Metang barely contain its excitement for knowledge.

"You do realize that you can lead a Rapidash to water, but you can't make it drink from it." Tyranitar analogized. "None of these books look appealing to me, based on what I'm judging from their covers."

"Ah, that old saying…" Metang silently uttered to itself before hovering over towards the Armor Pokémon. "I suppose it's difficult to change the ways of a brutish Pokémon. And I don't expect you to change overnight either, not during this night anyway."

As a joke, Metang hovered over to the children's section of this library, telekinetically grasped the first dozen books that appeared the most colorful, and then brought them over towards Tyranitar before dropping them in its hands. The first book of this pile was titled The Very Hungry Caterpie and had a few holes in it that were completely intentional for the sake of its "story".

"Here, read these." Metang said with a perfect poker face. "Perhaps you'll learn a few battle strategies or information regarding potential enemies from the…detailed illustrations."

Without recognizing Metang's joke about him being given children's books to read instead of books intended for a more intelligent audience, Tyranitar gingerly pried the surprisingly durable book's cover open and began to read. Or, because of the nature of The Very Hungry Caterpie, look over its illustrations and read the words that accompany it.

With Tyranitar occupied by Metang's joke, the Iron Arm Pokémon grew more serious about which books would best suit Tyranitar. It hovered over towards a couple of different corners of the Canalave Library before stopping at a section that held numerous books regarding martial arts that humans knew. Metang telekinetically seized a few of them and opened up their covers simultaneously, glancing over the paragraphs of information that accompanied each necessary illustration.

"(Now these are appropriate books for Tyranitar to read.)" Metang contemplated before closing them, stacking them over one another, and hovering back towards Tyranitar. "Tyranitar? I found you a few books that I'm confident you're going t–"

"Damn! That Caterpie can eat!" Tyranitar said out loud to Metang before closing the book and casually setting it aside. "Fruits, vegetables, meats, and even that human food. I can only imagine the size of the Butterfree it evolved into."

With that, Tyranitar seemingly ignored Metang's presence and retrieved another children's book to read. This one was titled The Giving Trevenant and depicted a gargantuan Trevenant that would continue to give pieces of itself until it could no longer give.

Through stunned silence, it became clear to Metang that Tyranitar didn't recognize Metang's joke–a poor excuse at humor at best–and was invested in those children's books that the Iron Leg Pokémon brought him. Metang simply returned to where it found those martial arts books, put them back in their original place, and began to hover upstairs.

"(…Well, at least he's occupied.)" Metang looked on the bright side. "(Otherwise, he'd probably attempt to tear this place down by running through walls, just to occupy himself. And I don't want that, mostly because I'm not yet strong enough to stop him when he attacks with reckless abandon.)"

There's a reason that humans rule this world and not Pokémon, even though Pokémon technically created it. Their pursuit of knowledge has allowed them to document their findings, exploit new possibilities and harness new powers. Their adaptability and dexterity astonishingly overpowers a Pokémon's abilities and instincts in multiple ways, but not enough where humans completely overpower Pokémon.

This is why humans and Pokémon coexist harmoniously for the most part, when there isn't some criminal syndicate attempting to make a profit from the blood of other Pokémon, or a one-in-a-million Pokémon that feels as though humans must pay for their sins. Metang knows this all too well, and knows that humans are mostly good and supporting individuals. The time that both it and Combusken, back as a Beldum and Torchic, spent in their infancy at a Hoenn Day Care allowed them to experience this firsthand…for however long it lasted.

But the question in Metang's mind is how that came to be? How did humanity and Pokémon come to coexist? And assuming that Metang can answer those nagging questions, there are others that it hopes that Canalave Library can answer for it. How did humans come to be, when only Pokémon existed since the beginning of time? What do humans eat? How far are humans willing to bond with Pokémon?

All of the question in Metang's mind regarded humanity, mostly because Metang hasn't lived alongside people in years, not since it and Torchic left the Pokémon Day Care after their loving caretakers were killed by a couple of rogue Pokémon. And luckily for Metang, the Canalave Library not only held books to answer those specific questions, but held them in a designated area of one of its rooms.

MYTHOLOGY

Long ago, when Sinnoh had just been made, Pokémon and humans led separate lives.

That is not to say they did not help each other.

No, indeed they did.

They supplied each other with good, and supported each other.

A Pokémon proposed to the others to always be ready to help humans.

It asked that Pokémon be ready to appear before humans always.

Thus, to this day, Pokémon appear to us if we venture into tall grass.

From the book titled Sinnoh Region's Mythology, the first inklings of how man and Pokémon learned to coexist likely began with what this myth is describing. But Metang knew that this brief story was a myth at best, because no human really knows when Pokémon began to appear before them. It could've happened to one solitary and exceptional human individual, or it could've spontaneously happened to thousands across the world. There's no decisive proof on the matter, but the important thing is that it happened not just in Sinnoh, but across the entire world.

In fact, some wild Pokémon, according to what humans have learned from them, behave differently towards humans whenever their paths would cross.

Regardless of gender, size, species, personality, and rarity, plenty of Pokémon plainly hate humans, willing to do away with them with whatever powers they possess. Other Pokémon behave territorially, not just to humanity. Some Pokémon appear to tolerate humans well enough to the point where they're willing to assist them at times or even ride on them. And then there are Pokémon that just plain love humans, always willing to assist them and will happily bond with one the first chance that they get. Appearances can be a strong giveaway towards how Pokémon will behave towards humans, but they shouldn't be relied upon. Because even the most monstrous of Pokémon have gentle hearts.

"(Not only that, but many Pokémon have come to learn how to speak their language, be it from their own mouths or through telepathy, such as myself.)" Metang contemplated further, knowing his mental prowess and also knowing that it'll only increase further when the day comes for it to evolve into a Metagross.

Metang was unsure of how humans and Pokémon lived before they intertwined their destinies. Perhaps they only met when it came to food or territory, or offense and defense. But ever since meeting, they've interacted with one another in ways that support them both. Humans rely on a Pokémon's strength and abilities for a multitude of tasks that would either be impossible for them or far too time and energy consuming. Pokémon rely on a human's willpower to grow more powerful in ways that they never knew they could, even evolving and Mega Evolving through means that they never knew they could, such as through evolutionary items/stones, trading, friendship, etc.

Overall, good came from human and Pokémon working alongside each other. The proof of that is the Pokémon Trainer and why that lifestyle is so heavily desired by children before 10 years old and accepted as a way of life, no matter how long it takes or how invested they become.

"(There are evil humans and evil Pokémon.)" Metang concluded. "(It is easy for one species to neglect that.)"

Metang put the book away and pulls out another one, a larger book titled Sinnoh Folk Tales. Upon opening the book, Metang psychically skimmed through the pages to get to those pertaining to its interests. And sure enough, Metang immediately found another short story, pertaining to Pokémon as human consumption.

Pick clean the bones of Pokémon caught in the sea or stream.

Thank them for the meals they provide, and pick their bones clean.

When the bones are as clean as can be, set them free in the water from which they came.

The Pokémon will return, fully fleshed, and it begins anew.

It is a known fact to Metang that there are no other major species on this planet than humans and Pokémon. And as a result, humans don't just raise Pokémon, they also devour them. There are people that hunt Pokémon for sport and sustenance, using rifles or other Pokémon to take down what is considered to be big game. There are people that raise a herd of bovine-like Pokémon, such as Tauros and Miltank, for milk and beef consumption. There are also people that fish commercially, regardless of the dangers of the high seas. And for the most part, people do this with maximum efficiency.

Nevertheless, Metang also knows that people can get a bit overzealous with their hunting and Pokémon food consumption. Aqua Lapras is living proof that her numbers are dwindling in the wild. Luckily for her, most of the people that capture her species are just as gentle and loving as the Lapras themselves. And the Lapras commonly do so out of their own free will, after bonding with their human partners by ferrying them across any given body of water. So if the Lapras disappear from the oceans, humans will help them get back there. All of the "Perfect IV Breeding" helps out with that, to a degree.

But Metang was digressing here and ignoring the topic of reincarnation with this first folk story.

"(No human or Pokémon has ever seen a Pokémon regenerate from the bones of their picked carcass, but many do exercise this practice with the belief that they do reincarnate.)" Metang contemplated. "(Whether reincarnation happens is still one of life's greatest mysteries that Arceus likely holds the answers to, and this mythology doesn't give me the answers I seek. In fact, it just leaves me questions if the bones being returned to the ocean are recycled in some way by other aquatic Pokémon for the next generation to benefit from.)"

Moving on, Metagross flips the pages and finds another short story of its interest.

There lived a Pokémon in a forest.

In the forest, the Pokémon shed its hide to sleep as a human.

Awakened, the human dons the Pokémon hide to roam villages.

Humans and Pokémon. Pokémon came into creation first and humans seemed to come into existence millions of years ago as a result of evolution. But what did humans evolve from? The only other species that resides in this world are Pokémon.

Is it possible then that humanity descended from Pokémon? And if that's true, then are humans basically Pokémon? It's possible that humans branched off from ape-like Pokémon, such as Slaking, or any given humanoid Pokémon that best resembles them, such as Machoke.

In fact, there's actually strong evidence supporting this, now that Metang contemplated it.

"(Pokémon aren't exclusively capable of supernatural feats. Some humans are capable of performing our abilities themselves.)" Metang pondered, going through a list that it memorized from the visor that makes up Xeno Lucario's battle armor. "(With enough discipline and experience, people have learned to harness incredible aural, physical, and psychic powers. There are even reported cases of people using abilities and moves that only Pokémon should know. Some of these people can go toe-to-toe with Pokémon, and even win against them. And even if they don't know how to perform supernatural feats, there are some people that can endure far more damage than any reasonable human ever should. I recall Xeno telling me of a pair of bumbling Team Rocket Grunts that have been struck with electricity and blasted into the skies hundreds of times and have come out of it almost entirely unscathed. What were their names again…? Can't be bothered to recall that presently.)"

A few more flipped pages leads Metang to another short story that may or may not lead to a heated mental debate.

There once were Pokémon that became very close to humans.

There once were humans and Pokémon that ate together at the same table.

It was a time when there existed no differences to distinguish the two.

It was clear to Metang that both people and Pokémon have diverse personalities. And those diverse personalities can influence the type of relationship a human and a Pokémon can have together.

This myth likely hints that the bond between human and Pokémon existed long before capturing, Poké Balls, and Pokémon Trainers became the staple of modern day. This myth may or may not imply that these bonds were forced, and that both races lived together harmoniously.

As to how harmoniously the relationship between human and Pokémon was is left blissfully vague, forcing Metang to speculate once more.

"(It's no strange fact that humans and Pokémon can dine together, or eat the same food. But for there to exist no differences between human and Pokémon, is it possible that they married one another?)" Metang contemplated, feeling no disgust over a plausible interspecies relationship topic. "(If that's the case, then what's the world's stance on humans and Pokémon having sexual relations with each other? Is it welcomed? is it frowned upon? Is it done in secret, such as when a Pokémon Trainer relaxes with his/her partner Pokémon by the campfire at night? And if so, what kind of Pokémon is it mostly performed with?)"

Metang is classified as a genderless Pokémon, and therefore had no adverse emotions over a subject that would easily make people and Pokémon alike blush in embarrassment. Metang approached and pondered this touchy subject analytically and professionally, like a gynecologist, before eventually letting it go.

"(Well, regardless of opinions and partner preferences, it's a subject that I have no business in intruding on. To each their own.)"

Satisfied with newfound knowledge, Metang no longer sees a point in being here. The Iron Arm Pokémon hovers down the steps and reunites with Tyranitar…only to find out that his inability to recognize Metang's earlier "joke" has made him read through half of the children's books by now.

Metang saw them scattered about in a pile. Outside of the two that Tyranitar read earlier, there was also Brown Ursaring, Brown Ursaring, What do you See?; James and the Giant Pecha Berry, Delphox in Socks, The Berenstain Beartics, and Clifford the Big Red Arcanine. Now Tyranitar was reading If you Give a Pikachu a Cookie, and he appeared deathly invested into the book.

Without much warning, Metang telekinetically took all of these books and threw them back into their original shelves, and then dragged Tyranitar out of Canalave Library by grasping his tail and having him claw at the ground while dragging against it with his belly.

"You were reading children's books all this time, Tyranitar." Metang explained as Tyranitar behaved childishly over a series of books that he has ingrained himself too deeply in. "You're too old and even too smart to be reading them."

"No! Let me go!" Tyranitar cried out as Metang began pulling him out of the entrance door. "I must know what happens to the Pikachu that wants a cookie! I feel like it's bad shit, man! Like a chain reaction that can mean the end of the world as we know it!"

"(…Dumbass.)" Metang rolled its eyes as it likely would drag Tyranitar back to Team Liberator.

"Properly, we should read for power. Man reading should be man intensely alive. The book should be a ball of light in one's hand." —Ezra Pound