Chapter 50
The Sun Gazer: Part 1
Alex followed behind Koh as they walked through the canyon, the Xatu had barely said anything since Paul had introduced them. The Charizard said that Koh needed to train him alone and that he had some business to attend to elsewhere. Paul had pulled out a large silver gem and teleported away without a second thought.
Alex was nervous as they came to the top of the canyon, but relaxed as he saw Koh's house. It was a simple wooden building resembling a pointed tent. Koh's house sat on a plateau where the canyon ended, the sun was setting on the horizon, perfectly centered in line with Koh's house. The entire area was coated in a beautiful orange hue.
Koh motioned for the Fraxure to sit down at the table as they entered Koh's humble house. It was a physical representation of Koh in a way, the bare essentials as he needed nothing besides shelter and food. Two bedrooms, One for Koh and a guest and a dining room, that was it.
As Alex sat down Koh remained standing and said "thank you for making the journey out here"
"It's not a problem, Paul said you can help me master my inner power?" Alex replied.
"Indeed I can, but before that, tell me want you know about this power, and how you have activated it, only then can I determine the best way to train you" Koh requested.
Alex gave Koh a slightly unsure look before saying "whenever it activates, I get an enormous boost in power, both physically and in my energy output. Temporal Tower was the first time I ever managed to control it a little. Before it was like I blacked out, and I only realized what I had done after the power faded"
"What was it like at Temporal Tower?" Koh pressed.
"It was like I was taking a back seat in my mind, something else was controlling my body and I was watching, my thoughts were being carried out for me. For example, I would dodge something, but the thought to do that wouldn't register until afterward" Alex was struggling to explain.
Koh had his usual blank look in his eye, at first Alex thought he wasn't listening, but then the older Pokémon spoke with authority saying "I understand somewhat, allow me to read your mind to fill in the gaps"
Alex nodded as Koh began to stare at him intently, after a solid minute of silence Koh sighed in his monotone voice and said "your mind is very odd, I cannot read it"
"Oh….sorry?" Alex said, unsure of how to respond.
"It is of no concern, I imagine being a former human simply means your brainwaves are different" Koh guessed.
Alex thought back to a previous battle and said "maybe that's why I was able to resist Spiritomb's hypnosis with no mental training?"
Koh nodded and said "it could be possible…..a few weeks ago I had a vision, of the past, specifically your accident traveling back in time"
"Wait! You saw it?" Alex asked excitedly. Nigel hadn't told him much, so he was excited at the prospect of learning more.
"Yes….and no. Whatever the circumstances of your accident, after you were thrown from the passage in time and became a Pokémon, you were infused with white matter" Koh clarified.
"White matter? What is that?" Alex questioned
Koh paused for a moment, blankly staring off into space before saying "white matter is the source of all positive energy and positive emotions in the multiverse. Together it and dark matter make up the fundamental parts of everything"
Alex nodded, doing his best to follow along, and asked "wait multiverse? And what is dark matter then?"
"This universe is only one of an infinite number, different worlds like ours with only pokemon and some with only humans, most worlds have both. Then some dimensions and universes are entirely different, some benevolent and life-giving, others filled with malice and evil, dark places, where powers older than time lie ravenous and waiting…." Koh explained nonchalantly.
"Ok…..what about the dark matter," Alex said awkwardly, trying his best to not focus on Koh's ending remarks about the multiverse
"Dark matter is the source of all negative powers and emotions, Ghost and Dark types are the only beings that can wield it. Shadow Ball for instance in the practical use of dark matter" Koh continued, still calm with his ever monotone voice.
"What Pokémon can manipulate white matter?" Alex inquired.
Koh shook his head and answered "none, normally, white matter doesn't exist in its pure form, but whatever threw you from the passage of time and turned you into a Pokémon infused you with this incredibly rare energy. Unfortunately, my visions cannot access moments within the passage of time, it exists outside the normal rules of time and thus, is beyond my gaze"
"Oh….ok, so how can I access my power then?" Alex stated sadly, he was excited at learning more about his human past, but it apparently wasn't happening anytime soon, or ever considering the altered timeline.
"Every time you have ever used it was when Blaze was in danger, correct? That is because only in those critical moments could you generate the positive emotions to summon it, namely the drive to save your partner. I will teach you the state of mind required to summon it al will" Koh revealed.
Alex smiled and said, "great how do we…"
The former human was cut off with Koh's signature "Kwaah"
Alex was taken aback as Koh said "this training will not be easy, it will push you to your mental limits, do you wish to proceed despite that? No one, myself included will fault you for backing out."
The former human was caught off guard by the Xatu's dark tonal shift and said "why didn't you lead with this if the training is going to be so trying?"
Koh sighed and admitted "I needed to speak with you calmly to assess your knowledge and mindset, you have what is required and thus I will give you the warning now"
Alex took a pause but nodded and replied "I am prepared"
Koh's eyes squinted as he started his new student down and replied "we all think that at first…..we are all wrong"
Author's note- Welcome to Alex's three-part journey, much like the fire masters this chapter is setting the stage for the rest so not as much happening.
Bonus points if you know what movie Koh's words on the multiverse come from and his last line in the chapter, leave a review!
