"UHD-UHD-UHD."

"What is it, Core-fish?"

The starter grumbles, turning around and whipping its claws up dramatically. It seems really insistent on... something. Gohan's the trainer, but Core-fish has been here longer, right? What if he wants to tell him something important?

"Corrrororooro! Corrophish phishcor! Gohan! Master! My leige! I understand – you wish to begin your journey towards Championhood posthaste! Yet, we must first pick up a valued ally, who despite his stolidity is sure to be of assistance!"

The saiyan nods, seeming to consider his words despite him obviously not understanding. "Er, well, lead the way?" At least he recognizes the ruffian's absolute knowledge! Heheh, he has chosen a trainer well! "Wait, isn't this just back to the town... the one we left five minutes ago?"

Core-fish the Magnifico nods, quite certain that he will get the point across. They must go back! The psyduck awaits! A quick glance behind him... confirms nothing, but Gohan does have his backpack. He hopefully has some Poké Balls in there. Heck, with Cynthia having taken him under her wing he might have Dive or Great Balls, or something.

They meander back into Celestic Town, bumbling around the buildings as they wind their way back to the pond. Once they get close, Core-fish suddenly stops and points. On the other side of the pond is a small congregation of pokémon from what Gohan can see... and Core-fish seems to be pointing at one in particular.

"Huh? You want me to catch that... duck?" Thinking back on it, he caught a glimpse of that one when he first met Core-fish! Are they friends? Daw. "I guess this is as good a time as ever to practice capturing... or catching, I think?" Gohan kneels down behind his starter, tapping it to get its attention. "You think you can get that duck pokémon to come over here?"

"CORRO! Of course~. No mere mortal can resist, the fantastic cry of corphish!"

"All right!" Gohan proceeds to turn around and fumble with his backpack as Core-fish wanders into the pool. The water is familiar... too familiar! Once this is over and done with, a move-on should be gotten! To Mt. Coronet! That is where all the strong Pokémon Trainers and their charges are, yes? Worthy opponents for a magnificent crustaceoid!

"Corro. Pst! Psyduck!"

"PSY! Gah!"

The Duck Pokémon stumbles, tripping over his own feet before falling flat onto its belly. He slowly turns his head and widens his eyes when he realizes who just startled him. "Duck duck?! Psy-duck?! Corphish?! You're alive?!"

"Corrorrroo! Corrorophiieeeeeesh. Of course~. My friend, my amigo, master Gohan has sent for me to recruit you."

"Psiiiii. Oh, really? Did he now?"

Corphish nods, not noticing any sort of undertone which may be in Psyduck's voice. "Cor! Coro, corrrorophish. Yes! Now, get in this Poké Ball."

"Psy. No."

Gohan watches the confrontation from across the pond... this is the part where they fight, isn't it?

"Uh, so, I..."

"Uhd!"

The pokémon in the nearby pond watch with interest– psyduck and barboach and magikarp, and more, oh my. A Pokémon Battle, here in Celestic Town? Right next to the pond where they can watch? Nice. The well-respected Psyduck clenches his... fists, as Core-fish clacks his claws. Gohan himself gulps and holds his free Poké Ball (not the one Core-fish is holding). Psyduck is going to live in there. He is going to capture a pokémon the right way, without beating it into submission... himself?

The wild psyduck used Aqua Tail!

Core-fish avoided the attack! The Poké Ball was dropped!

"Uh..." what were his moves again?! Hitting... bubble things... "Core-fish! Use Bubble Beam!"

The tubby duck is slapped by the barrage of bubbles: it's flesh jiggles but it doesn't seem seriously hurt. Or very hurt at all, for that matter. It doesn't seem to have been very effective.

"Psiiiiiii..." The wild psyduck used Surf! It's not very effective...

"Core-fish?! What happened?!" Core-fish scrabbles at the ground, absolutely soaked from the sudden wave before Psyduck places a webbed foot on its chest to hold him down. The psyduck cackles as Core-fish glares at it, shaking a 'fist'. It takes a quick scuttlestep forwards before remembering its place as... well, Gohan's. Said Gohan checks his Trainer Card and is relieved to see the data for his pokémon on it. Thing is pretty useful.

"Uuuuuse... Leer?"

Core-fish proceeds to leer at the opponent. His eyes glow red, even: this is clearly a Move, with a capital m. Psyduck can feel his defensive abilities draining.

The wild psyduck used Struggle! And by that, I mean he smacks Core-fish upside the face and cackles. He winces at the recoil – but by god this is worth it. Plus, Core-fish is way below his level – he should be close to fainting.

"COR! OW! What the hell, amigo?"

"Psy! DUCK! I! Am not your 'amigo'! This is a fight! And I–"

GOHAN threw a Poké Ball at the psyduck!

...

. . .

. . .

Gotcha! Psyduck was caught! Would you like to nickname the psyduck?

...

"So, uh, Sighduck... hello! I'm going to train you."

The psyduck sighs (of course), knowing without knowing exactly how Gohan butchered his name. They're back at the Pokémon Center... to heal, obviously. Core-fish laughs at his expense – unfortunately, Core-fish can't read. So he doesn't know his own naming predicament. The two just sort of sit in the corner of the center, lounging on a couple of seats.

"So, you already caught two?" Nurse Cherri coughs out. She takes a long drag of her cigar as she looks them over. "Good on ya. Maybe you can do right n' proper battles without killing the other pokémon."

"T-thanks! I think?"

"Yep. You gonna be a water trainer or something?"

"Hm..." he thinks. A water trainer? Water is important. It's, like, seventy percent of a person's body. And like ninety percent of Mr. Piccolo's body. But... "No, I don't think so."

"Aight. Woulda been a good choice – them water pokémon tend to be pretty good." Core-fish seems to puff up with pride at this indirect compliment. The two pokémon seem to know each other... well, that's probably why Core-fish led him back to town, right? To get the duck. It's moves are... Aqua Tail, Surf, Confusion, and Body Slam? "Huh. An HM Move? And Body Slam? Must've been a breedin' experiment – or a previously owned poké that got released."

"... Nurse Cherri, what's an HM?"

"Huh? You really don't know anything, hm?" He slowly nods... his origins should be kept a secret, right? Not that he can think of any real reason for that... but it seems like the thing to do in this situation. Other than Cynthia and Lucy, he should be alien incognito. "A TM is a sorta... disc-thingie. It stands for Technical Machine. You slot it into a Poké Ball and if the pokéman can use it, they learn the move it represents. Right hard to program. HMs are the same but, like, for Field Moves."

"What's a Field Move?"

"Uh... a move you use outside of battle? Legal ones, anyways... ain't no good to get arrested for using Flamethrower outside of battle. I think some TMs can be Field Moves, but e'rry HM is one. Just gotta get permission first... prove your worth as a trainer, or get a license, or something."

"Wow! Pokémon are really used for a lot... what sort of Moves get used like that?"

"Er, well, your psyduck knows Surf? You could... go across a pond or something. A pokémon with Strength can like... move rocks around, and one with Rock Smash can smash... rocks. Ya know, Lucy told me you could fly, I don't think you really need them."

"Oh... well, it might still be useful." Hm. His strength was helpful in catching pokémon, but it... really would take a lot out of the adventure aspect of it, wouldn't it? He'll just have to resolve to walking around normally. Unless he gets really bored. Then he can fly. "Should I get going? Cynthia said the next city over was on the other side of the mountain."

"Dunno, kid. The other one – Lucy, her birthday is in just a few days. You could wait for her. Or take 'er along. Ain't no rule she can't accompany you to Eterna City and take the test there."

"That sounds good. I really want to get going. Would she be allowed to use her pokémon, too?"

"Hm..." Cherri thinks. The rules really are quite nebulous, aren't they? Anyone can just catch a pokémon, or battle pokémon for fun, or just walk around. "I think ya only need a card to use Field Moves and battle really competitively. She should be fine for a short trek to the next city o'er."

"Okay!" He stands up and bows, sincerely nodding his head. "Thank you for the advice, Nurse Cherri!"

"Heh, no problem, kid."

So, and so, Lucy and Gohan meet up to plan their adventure.

MT. CORONET

A sacred mountain that is capped the year round with snow. A gigantic maze sprawls inside it. There is an ancient ruin named the Spear Pillar located here, which is now known to be home to members of the legendary Creation Dragons.

"This is the place... I was found?"

"Mhm," she nods. "Not right here, but, you know, on the mountains." Lucy pops open a Soda Pop: he has to wonder if that really is the name of the brand. Awfully uncreative. "We should pass through on Route 211... go through the mountain's caves... and then arrive at Eterna City from Route 208? Wait, no, just stay on Route 211."

"Mkay."

They deliberate in front of the entrance to the cave system. Pokémon as far as he can tell are no danger to him, but should he really be starting out right in what's basically the abode of the gods? Between the two of them they can probably do a 'Multi Battle' if they run into any insistent trainers: Cynthia said professionals frequent this area. Or, at least a Single Battle where both of them have pokémon involved.

"... Well, we won't get to Eterna City just standing around here, right? We should go in."

"Mkay."

Gohan sticks his head into the cave, peeking around. Doesn't seem too dark... some scattered rocks, boulders, other things you'd except to see in a cave. No pokémon so far – looks like the place has been pretty cleared out. Makes sense. People probably pass through here all the time between the town and the city.

"Lucy, Lucy! You can come in!"

"O-okay!" she responds. Quietish. But not too quietish. Unlike most, her pokéballs are actually stored in her pockets, so she can't move too fast for fear of them falling out. She lacks Gohan's stylish backpack. "Cynthia told me that there were tons of zubat and golbat in here... you'll... you'll keep them away, right?"

"I don't know what those look like... uh, I'm guessing they look like bats?"

Before she can respond, the sound of clunking boots emanates throughout the cavern! She yelps before realizing oh, they're boots, it's probably a person. A face appears from the shadows – two, actually, one frowning and one significantly taller one smiling and holding a flashlight. They seem similar – it's hard to tell, but they look like they have pretty dark skin for Sinnoh. Foreigners? Maybe brothers? The older/taller one is definitely an Ace Trainer, at least. The smaller one has a pokémon poking out of his backpack. Looks like a monkey! A bright red monkey ("Pansear!"). Hm.

"Hey! What are you doing here?"

"Uh..." Gohan looks around. Uh. "Going to Eterna City? On the other side of the mountain...?"

"Huh. You a pokémon trainer too?"

"... Yes?" Oh no. He doesn't like where this is going. This is going to be a battle, isn't it? He literally just took his first steps outside of town. "I, uh, just got my Trainer Card?"

"Hm?" Oh no, there's that glint in his eye. The same one dad got whenever he saw a new enemy. And this guy knows he knows. "I'll go easy on you on since you're only a rookie. But... once your eyes meet... " This guy... seems like a real jerk! "My name's Ken, by the way," he says. He nudges the one next to him, presumably his brother. "This guy is Alan. He isn't a Trainer."

Ace Trainer Ken would like to battle!

"Gohan... he's right. It's really rude to turn down a battle unless you really are in a pickle."

He nods. He gets it. FINE. Literally like, ten seconds after leaving town. Well, I mean, this is part of the experience he signed up for, right? "Hey, you don't mind if we do a tag team sort of thing, right?"

"Huh? No, I don't care." he says. Ken smirks as he fingers a blue Poké Ball with red highlights and steps forwards. "You're gonna need all the help you can get.

Ace Trainer Ken sent out Nuzleaf!

Tag Team Gohan and Lucy sent out... uh...

Ken taps his foot as the two confer. His face betrays his impatience to get this ass-whooping underway. His nuzleaf's... crackling belies similar feelings.

Yamper!

"Yamp! Yap!"

"Daw, a Yamper? Never seen one of those before. It's pretty cute."

"R-really? You think so?" Lucy blurts out.

"No."

The foe's Nuzleaf used Feint Attack! Yamper fainted!

The foe's Nuzleaf used Leaf Blade! Core-fish fainted!

The foe's Nuzleaf used Feint Attack! Chimecho fainted!

"Is that all of them?" he says to the tap of his foot. Yeesh, besides Alan playing with his Pansear off to the side, it's doubtful anyone would want to... yeah, whatever, it's just part of the job. Probably doing this just for the XP (or a couple Poké, lord knows how giving away those in exchange for escort is customary). "Send out your last pokémon, pal."

"Tch!"

Tag Team Gohan and Lucy sent out Sighduck!

"Really? A psyduck? That's, like, the best you had left?"

Sighduck glares at the opposing trainer, and glares harder at the smug stain of a nuzleaf before him. Grass and dark... this is a perfectly disadvantageous battle for him. It's immune to Confusion, and Aqua Tail and Surf wouldn't be very effective. Body Slam would be his only viable option...

If it wasn't for the mass difference in level.

Sighduck used Aqua Tail!

Nuzleaf was thrown clear across the room, smacked its head into a rock, and lost half it's HP.

"W-what?! What level is that psyduck?!"

Gohan shrugs. "Dunno." The foe's nuzleaf growls, and claws its way up out of the dust ("Currucu!"). The foe's Nuzleaf used Giga Drain! Nuzleaf's attack missed!

And with a look of surprise on it's mug that Ken will never forget, Nuzleaf is smacked into the ground with a sopping-wet Aqua Tail. The dumbfounded Ace Trainer sticks the Great Ball out to return his partner, the red lightbeam illuminating and converting it into portable data.

"How... you... you didn't use Flash when I wasn't looking, did you...?"

Gohan nods. That's another move that exists, apparently. Maybe it's like Solar Flare?

"PSYYYYYYYYY!"

Ken grumbles, shrinking and pocketing the Great Ball as the other two watch the battle. Pansear swings around and lands in his owner's hair, while Lucy watches with interest. Can Gohan win his first battle? This psyduck...

"Luxray! Kick that thing's ass!"

Luxray used Thunder Fang!

Sighduck fainted! This battle goes to... Ace Trainer Ken!

...

Pansear sighs and scurries back into its pocket as Alan lifts off the rock. Ken grumbles as he returns the menacingly growling cat-thing. "All right kid, good show, now pay up and I'll escort you to the next town. After all... you two don't have any more pokémon to defend yourselves with, don't you?"

"Uh."

Lucy smirks.

"No thank you~."

Ken blinks. "Really, kid? I get that you probably don't have a lot of cash but giving up your last ten Poké is better than stumbling through the cave." His eyes narrow. "Do you really not want me to get my reward that much?"

What reward? You beat up a couple of kids. You really only did this for a few bucks? ... And if the paying up after a match is less customary for losing the match and more of a reward for safe escort...

"No, I think we'll just take our chances with the cave." And to Ken's utter shock and disappointment (and to Alan's mild amusement) the two trundle forwards into the darkness. As they advance the light fades until they're all but invisible...

"Are they suicidal or something?! I know I can be a bit of a jerk, but come on, I needed a couple of bucks for Repel! Is that really worth..."

SPLAT!

His unasked question is answered by the what-was-probably-once-a-zubat staining the wall, the sudden impact causing him to jump. A quick glance later tells him... yeah, this thing is knocked out cold. Something... something...

"I think we'll take our chances..."

Something isn't right with that one. He gulps and grabs Alan's arm, hurrying out of the cave towards Celestic Town. He may have just antagonized a grand foe. Thank god they don't live here. ... Hopefully, he's never without a pokémon to use in battle.

Mewtwo: the Genetic Pokémon

Class: Legend

National Pokédex Number: 150

Ability: Pressure

Signature Move: Psystrike

Egg Group: Unknown, possibly Human-like or Fairy

Age: Decades or less

Captured by: Red, Wally

Created by: Cinnabar Labs; Blaine (suspected), Mr. Fuji (suspected), Bill (exonerated)

Type: Psychic

Height: 2.0 m

Weight: 122 kg

Known Fusions: Mewtrizard (with a charizard)

Only one of its kind, a pokémon genetically engineered from the ancient Mew. Its origins are shrouded in mystery, and very few have seen it. Even the one who managed to capture it, Red, knows little – the most that has been deduced is it's origins in the former Cinnabar Lab. Due to incomplete DNA samples, even for modern technology, the gaps in its genes had to be filled in with human DNA: this makes it one of the few known hybrids between the animal and pokémon kingdoms. Its feral nature results from years of horrific experiments. It was likely traumatized by the process of being born – all known pokémon besides this one are hatched from eggs rather than born live. However, the discipline and focused tranquility under a Pokémon Trainer has managed to channel its fury well.