Author's Note:

My apologies, with even more seriousness than usual. I have undeniably been slacking off, playing vidja gaems, though I will also have you know that my school work, particularly in English, has been rather troublesome as of late. With Thanksgiving break upon us North Americans, however, I will now have considerably more time available in the immediate future. You can thusly expect a possible update on my other story, Dimensions and Realities, in the coming weekend.

Assuming that I won't be distracted with my supposedly large birthday present, of course!

Happy birthday to me yesterday, by the way.

And, perhaps more importantly, happy Turkey Day yesterday as well! Though, it's probably a bit late for that…

Disclaimer:

Pokémon and any other referential materials found in this story do not belong to me. They belong to their respective owners and subsidiaries, and I claim no ownership of them.

Of Children, Men, and Monsters

Chapter Nineteen: The Pokémon Professor

The first thing that Marza became aware of upon entering the professor's laboratory ('Sounds like I'm going in a mad scientist's mansion…') was the absolute maelstrom that was the collection of the piles of objects lying upon the floor. She had to carefully tip-toe her way around the piles to even get a few door past the doorway, and she hesitantly called out, "Excuse me? Is Professor Elm here?"

A prompt exclamation followed, along with the sounds of several objects simultaneously crashing to the floor. "Uh, y-yes! Sorry, just let me…"

Some shuffling noises, before a young-ish man emerged from a door to the left. If Marza were made to guess, she'd estimate his age to be around the range of his mid-twenties, what with his lack of, say, wrinkles or graying hair. Speaking of, his color of hair was an off-brown shade, and his glasses were tipped unevenly to one side, as if he had just emerged from a rather hectic moment and forgotten about appearing proper.

That issue was rescinded with a single upward push of a finger, and he next said, "Sorry about that! One of the Pokémon intended for the new Trainers was getting a bit rowdy and surprised me, hence the noise…"

And out came the likely culprit just as that sentence was finished. It was a blue, bipedal being that reminded the girl distinctly of an alligator or crocodile, with a yellow stripe running through its center and bright red spines emerging its… spine. It was giggling softly, stubby fingers reaching up in a futile attempt to stifle the noise. It was likely chortling in the first place because of the previously mentioned antics it had gotten up to.

The good professor explained in response to the quirked brow of Marza's, "That's Totodile. Definitely the prankster of the three starter Pokémon we have at the moment, though he's… how to word it…"

The newly revealed male Pokémon momentarily glanced up at the unfamiliar human before throwing caution to the wind, leaping at her face, jaws stretched opened as it continued to laugh.

Oscura intercepted him mid-leap, barreling into him and sending the two of them crashing into the ground. They then began to roughly tumble along the floor in a comedic manner, scratching and biting each other all the while, just adding to the silliness. Marza stepped in after a few seconds of this, carefully extended both hands out to separate the two monsters.

Marza and Oscura both were unpleasantly surprised when the Totodile sprayed water into their faces, the surprise of which reflexively forcing Marza letting the amphibious Pokémon escape from her grip and flee.

It was still laughing as it ran off.

The human and the Pokémon immediately decided that he was incredibly obnoxious and should be ignored whenever possible.

It appeared to take Elm several moments to realize what had just happened.

"… Ah, sorry? Again? He's a pretty mischievous one. Trust me when I say that he means well, though."

Marza sincerely doubted his words, and, though hands that were currently busy wiping her face dry, said, none too dryly: "Whatever floats your boat, I suppose."

Elm chuckled, and it was only then that Marza realized her unintentional play on words. After stifling his laughter, Elm spoke: "Anyways, I presume that you're here to pick up a Pokédex? You don't look as if you need a starter Pokémon, what with that Larvitar. Where ever did you acquire it, by the way? Mount Silver is quite a dangerous place to be, especially for any person without even a single Gym Badge."

Marza was hesitant to answer. After several seconds of thinking, she responded, "… You could say that she was a gift."

Then her eyes widened, and, with a touch of rage, added, "Also, Oscura is female. She isn't mine, either. She's hardly a possession, you know, nor are any living things."

Elm was uncertain as to how to respond to that retort. He definitely wasn't expecting such a scathing remark coming from practically nowhere.

"… Sorry? Again? It's just that…"

A small sigh.

"Well, I suppose that it's just how everyone words it these days. People acknowledge that Pokémon aren't actually theirs; it's just that, at some point in time – around the invention of the first Poké Balls, I think – people just started proclaiming captured Pokémon as their own. I believe that it's hardly today's generation's fault that that's just how things went and stuck."

Marza thought about this for a few seconds, memorizing the term "Poké Ball" for future questioning and discovery, before responding, "Well, if you say so, I can't really blame you. Just those of the past."

Marza, briefly coughed, realizing just how awkward she had made this initially well-meaning encounter.

"A-Anyways. I came here to ask a few questions, not to be confrontational on otherwise irrelevant subjects."

Cue music – Pokémon Gold/Silver/Crystal Version soundtrack – Professor Elm's Laboratory

The good professor appeared to be a tad cheered up by this reveal.

"Well, feel free to ask away then, Marza!" he exclaimed, pulling up a pair of chairs through that rabble covering the floor for the pair of humans to sit on. Once they were seated (with Oscura hopping onto Marza's lap), the lass began:

"First of all, people have been mentioning a "Pokédex" a lot to me lately. What precisely is a Pokédex?"

Elm put a hand to his chin, evidently thinking upon how to phrase his response.

"Well, Marza, a Pokédex is sort of like an encyclopedia, except for the fact that it's based around Pokémon species and information centered around them rather than simply words. It gives you their name, typical height and weight, Typing… Things of that nature."

"You mentioned Typing. Mind explaining that to me, Professor?"

His glasses momentarily went askew in a comical manner at this inquiry.

'How does she not know what a Pokémon's Typing is?'

He was polite enough to not voice this thought, however, and, after setting his glasses straight, said next: "Well, a Pokémon's Typing refers to its…. I suppose you could say elemental affinity. There are Water-type Pokémon, like the Totodile from a bit earlier, as well as Fire, Grass, Electric… the list goes on, with eighteen Types total. Your Larvitar, if you're wondering, is a Ground and Rock-type, which means that she is very, very weak against Water and Grass Type Moves."

"What do you mean by "weak against?'"

A certain gleam entered the coated scientist's eyes; he always did enjoy a good lecture.

"Well, Typing is important in every Pokémon because it dictates what Moves – which is to say, attacks – they can generally learn and use when in combat, as well as what they are capable of shrugging off or being heavily injured by – or, in a few select cases, such as Ground Moves versus Flying-types, not connecting altogether. The Moves themselves also have typing, as you may have gotten at already. Let's go back to Totodile again; he has a move called Water Gun, which, perhaps obviously enough, is a Water-type attack. As Oscura is of the Ground and Rock-typing, she would take a rather large amount of damage from such an attack. Even thoroughly learned professors such as us, who have been studying the nature and functions of Pokémon, don't quite know the specifics as to how such a system works. We do know, however, that the basics come from general logic."

He chuckled for a moment.

"Well, at least, relatively speaking, because some Type match-ups just make so little sense. Back to Totodile, hpwever! Let's metaphorically pit him versus Oscura; you know that water deteriorates away at stone and changes the terrain over time, sometimes rather quickly, yes?"

A nod from the sapphire-eyed lass.

"As such, Water Moves would work very well at incapacitating her. However, if, say, an Electric-type Move would connect with Oscura, it would do practically nothing. Electricity can't find any sort of conductivity in the ground, you see, thusly dealing very little damage, if even any to begin with."

Another nod from Marza, though this one was a bit more in comprehension that the previous.

"I think I've got it down, yeah. There are Water and Electric-types, yes? So, if an Electric Move were to hit a Pokémon that has Water as a Typing, it would be rather effective?"

"You've grasped the concept rather quickly, haven't you? Why, yes, that would indeed be the case. You will also want to remember that many Pokémon have two Types, which means that one Type-based weakness might cancel out another's, or, in some cases, make their weaknesses even worse, as I have said with Oscura. Keep in mind that sufficiently powerful Grass or Water Moves may defeat her in one hit as a result of her specific combination of Typing!"

Speaking of, the Rock Skin Pokémon appeared to be rather indignant about being made such an example of, saying a "Lar!" to express this.

"Don't go getting mad about this, Oscura. They're just facts that we'll have to be careful of and learn to get around."

The other female appeared to still be irked, but this statement placated her some.

"That's the spirit, Marza! Now, was there anything else you wished to discuss?"

"Yes, actually. Why is it that aspects of battling between Pokémon are discussed so much? Is battling between Pokémon some sort of sport, or…?"

Elm's eyes involuntarily widened behind his re-skewed glasses.

'This girl just might be the most sheltered person I have ever had the opportunity to meet… Ah, well! A chance to teach is a chance to teach, and I will gladly take it!'

"Well, it's just as much a sport as it is a past-time or a hobby, but, yes, battling between Pokémon is certainly a prominent thing across most all of the world. Depending on how skilled you are at it, you can actually obtain much fame and wealth from it. It should come to no one's surprise, then, that most people your age are aspiring to obtain Gym Badges and become the very best to get these things."

Marza's eyes perked in interest, but, in a contradictory manner, asked, "Wouldn't the Pokémon themselves not want to fight, though? I can easily imagine that some Pokémon wouldn't want to fight, and not all of us humans are the best of people…"

A small grin grew on Elm' features for the first part, then went to a frown for the second. "Oh, but you see, Marza, it's actually in most Pokémons' natures to fight. It is how the majority of Pokémon grow stronger, after all, and that, too, is a perfectly natural and normal drive in most of them. As such, we don't really need to push them all that much to fight. And as for us not being the best of people… Well, that is undeniably true. Some push their Pokémon too much, or force them into fighting. Some even capture Pokémon illegally, or just do not give them the chance to refuse the "offer" to go with them. That is why we have a rather extensive police and justice system, however! It's really little wonder that most criminals don't get away actions, you see! Not even the infamous Team Rocket from three years ago could stand against the might of justice presented by kind-hearted, well-meaning Pokémon Trainers!"

Marza backed off a step or two; Elm was getting more than a little excited by his own story-telling, it would seem, gesticulating wildly and striking a dramatic pose at his last sentence. He quickly realized what he was doing, however, and stepped off of the random piece of equipment he was standing on top of.

"Erm… Sorry, Marza. I tend to get a bit caught up in my lessons, if you couldn't already tell. Any more questions?"

"Just one more, I think, though it'll probably have several more follow-ups. Which means that it isn't actually one question, obviously, so what am I even…"

One of Professor Elm's brows was raised, Marza noticed.

"Sorry, I tend to deviate a bit when I realize that a break in logic has occured. Anyways, what I was about to ask was relating to these "Gym Badges" that you've mentioned once or twice. What are those about?"

The Professor was once again happy to explain, it would seem.

"The Gym Badges are these little pendants that you receive upon defeating a Gym Leader in a Pokémon Battle. The Gym Leaders are a band of particularly powerful trainers scattered throughout the individual regions of the world; you need eight Gym Badges from them to participate in the annual Pokémon League Tournament. For Johto, where we are in right now, as well as our neighboring region, Kanto, the Pokémon League lies on one of the most dangerous places of both regions: Mount Silver.

"… Well, as of recently, anyways. The Indigo Plateau, which lied on Mount Silver's eastern rim, and also where the Tournaments were formerly held, collapsed a year and a half back, so the location had to be changed.

"Where was I? Ah, yes… If you are the last one standing in the Tournament, you get the opportunity to battle the Elite Four: the four strongest Trainers of their designated area. Beat them? And you get to fight the single strongest Trainer of the region, as well as on of the strongest Trainers in the entire world: the Champion. Defeat even the Champion? And you, too, shall become one, acquiring a rather hefty amount of fame and fortune in the process.

"If you're looking to be the next Champion – which, mind you, is an incredibly lofty goal – them your first step will be to get a Trainer's License from a Pokémon Center. There's one in Cherrygrove City, which is just a few miles away. The Pokémon Centers, if you're wondering, are buildings where you can get your Pokémon healed up to perfect health for absolutely free! You can also pick up your Trainer's License for that same, non-existent price."

The lass put a curious finger to her chin, patting it a couple of times. She spent several seconds in pensive silence before finally announcing:

"Well, the whole Trainer thing does sound interesting. Becoming a good Trainer is not really why I am here, either, but maybe having money and protectors does sound appealing… Tracking that man down will doubtless be difficult without those, and he appeared to be rather dangerous… Well, I suppose that I may as well. I hardly expect to get as far as becoming a Champion – probably not even close, now that I seriously consider the odds – but it if it helps me achieve my ultimatum, I see no reason not to."

Elm clasped his hands in joy.

"Very good, Marza! Though, I don't think that your motives are any of my business, I still must ask: who is this man, and why are you looking for him? You said that he was dangerous, as well; should you not be calling the authorities if this is the case…?"

Marza merely shook her head, saying, "In your order of saying: You are correct when you said that this is none of your business, I don't truly know, he is up to something incredibly suspicious, and I would rather not get them involved in I don't have to. I may tell you later if I feel the need; trust me when I say that I can handle this alone."

The Pokémon Professor looked at Marza for a relatively long time, before saying, "… If you insist."

He shuffled through the virtual sea of miscellaneous tools, getting to the desk at the end of the room and taking a somewhat small, bright red device into a hand from a small pile of the things. Scuffling back towards Marza, he held it out for her to take. She did so, examining it closely from a multitude of angles after that action.

"This, Marza, is one of the latest versions of the Pokédex. If you would be so kind as to flip it open…"

She did as Elm had requested, and was met with a rather bright screen.

"The Pokédex, as I have already said, is an encyclopedia on Pokémon. Or, at least, it will be once you've seen enough a large enough amount of different Pokémon species. You see, the Pokédex automatically creates entries and data upon sighting a Pokémon, but only once that happens. It's up to you to travel the world and catalogue the varying Pokémon species, of which there are many. Hundreds of Pokémon await for you to discover, Marza! Are you ready for the adventure of your life!?"

He was getting up in her face, a slightly manic smile "gracing" his features.

"… I guess? Elm, would you please back off?"

He did so with all due haste when he realized he was once again getting incredibly excited.

"Sorry, sorry! In all due seriousness, though, Marza, feel free to embark if you wish…"

And, suddenly, a few rings sounded out from one of his numerous coat pockets. Pulling his phone-esque device out, he answered the call.

"Hello?"

…

"Oh, Mister Pokémon! How are you doing today?"

…

"That's good to hear. What is it that you called me for?"

…

"A package?"

…

"Well, I'm a bit busy, and I'm expecting the other two starter Pokémon any minute now… Hmm…"

…

"No, no! It's fine! Tell you what: I'll send someone over to pick it up. I believe that she's trustworthy enough for this…"

…

"Right! Talk to you again soon!"

Click.

Marza frowned softly, yet dangerously.

"… You just made me your errand girl, didn't you?"

Elm appeared simultaneously nervous and guilty at her evidently correct guess.

"Sorry, sorry! It's just that Mister Pokémon – yes, I know, that name is really silly – was rather eager about whatever he has for me. You'll be compensated for it if you want…"

Marza couldn't help but sigh.

"No, it's fine. I'll do it. I'll be heading out shortly, anyways. Where does this "Mister Pokémon" live?"

The man was relieved at her patience.

"He lives just beyond Cherrygrove City, at the very end of Route Thirty. He lives in a rather… flamboyant building. You'll recognize it on sight, trust me."

"If you say so. Well, if you'll excuse me, I believe that I have places to be, as well as things to do…"

Elm bid the lass a farewell, waving as she exited the door, Oscura in her hands as she closed the door behind her with a tap of a foot.

'… I sincerely hope that whatever she's getting into involved with this "dangerous man" doesn't put her at risk…'

From his position in the woods, the red-haired boy grinned as she spotted the girl he had previously been following leave the laboratory of the scientist. He chuckled in an eager manner at this, muttering, "Finally… It's time to make my move…!"

And, after making sure that no one was nearby, he did what he came to New Bark Town to do…