Chapter 3:
The movement around the laboratory has become something unusual for Josh to get used to as he passed the entire week watching Professor Oak making his studies of the pokemon over the Palet region.
It's surprisingly interesting to see that all the pokemon even if they have a good heart for the professor, they always ended up hurting the poor researcher in some way.
In the morning, Josh watched Professor Oak doing his studies, as in the night the Professor was making progress by looking at Josh's laptop, tablet, and cellphone. With a good video camera, he carefully opened the equipment and made a slight diagnosis of which items were inside each piece of equipment. And watching the video in reverse he made sure that the equipment would be fixed again. And with a good Rotom by his side, he even found an even better way to replicate the equipment.
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"Are you telling me that Rotom is capable of maxing out his power by fusing himself with the equipment, and then after collecting all the data he will replicate everything he merged itself as new?" Josh's mouth dropped from hearing such a theory, and professor Oak nodded his head.
"Exactly, as I saw at first hand, the chips and microchips inside of the laptop you have is something that it's too difficult to be replicated by my mere hands... But using Rotom by my side, I can make him spread his energy and by using an overload, he can collect all the data and recreate the equipment." Professor Oak remained with his arms behind his back, as he looked at Josh who was drinking tea with a Ditto eating his bowl of pokemon food on the corner without paying attention to their conversation.
"It's not that easy...Why do I have a feeling there is a but on there?" Josh raised his eyebrow as he received a nod from Professor Oak.
"While some may think that's too easy, there are in fact some consequences of doing it... Firstly, the equipment you will have actually will be part of Rotom, it will be fused to a pokemon so your equipment will not be the same... So that's why I want to ask your permission." Professor Oak, knowing Josh for a few days, knew how careful he is around the equipment, especially from the most important part...
"And what about the archives inside of them? Will Rotom damage any of them while doing that? Because you promised me…"
"I know that I promised you that I would use all my power to make sure that your archives would remain intact, so that's why I want to tell you that if I make sure that Rotom gets inside of the equipment and with extra careful he would copy everything and do his best to not damage anything from inside." Professor Oak raised his hand as he made sure that his fellow visitor would remain calm from the idea, which he actually in fact did.
"So, you are merging your pokemon to my equipment as it becomes a new transformation and by coping with all the data, he will be capable of reproducing himself and creating the same equipment as the new Rotom. This way both of us would have the same equipment without damaging anything...Is that what you are saying?" Josh raised his eyebrows as he made a point of everything that was said to him at that moment.
"Exactly." Professor Oak didn't beat around the bush, as he made sure to Joshua that he was indeed explaining what would happen to his equipment.
"Okay, just wanted to be sure. So this means that my equipment will be Rotom fused, but that means that they will be my pokemon?" Josh needed to be sure in case that in fact what Professor Oak was proposing was indeed the same thing that Professor Kukui did on Pokemon Sun and Moon, and make sure that Rotom would just be his cellphone and not a pokemon registered at the pokemon center because it would be a pain in the ass to have 3 Rotoms and then just capture 3 other pokemon.
"I wouldn't say your pokemon Josh, because they would be programmed by Rotom himself to be inside of your equipment as what you would say? An App?" Professor still tried to understand the concepts of technology after having an entire night of Josh explaining what apps of drawing, writing, video, and other download apps were. And having a good understanding of how the future would be if he decided to create things like that for the new generations.
Josh remained quiet but after having an entire minute thinking, he just shrugged off.
"Okay, that seems acceptable. I'm glad that I will not need to take care of 3 Rotoms like pokemon instead of being just my equipment, but I cannot say that I didn't expect it. You actually helped me and even managed to make sure that they all worked fine. So if this is the only case, then it's fine." Josh nodded his head, as Professor Oak shook his head.
"I'm not done yet Joshua, since there is another issue that I must explain... It's about the time process." Professor Oak once again gave another issue that both of them must resolve. "Rotom would need at least 3 days in the equipment to be used by all the procedures, and since you want everything working fine, it would need this time to make sure that nothing goes wrong. So it would need 3 days for your laptop, 3 days for your cellphone, and 3 days for your tablet. Making this 9 days of stay for you here."
"9 days?" Josh said in disbelief as he looked at the professor who nodded to him. "Indeed this sounds like a situation that would require patience, but well… I think there's nothing that I can do to hurry this... In fact, if we do that would make me lose what is important to me. Alright, I accept your terms."
"That's wonderful Joshua, I'm glad that you are a mature boy and understand the reason behind everything." Professor Oak smiled warmly as Josh waved his hand like it was nothing much to do. "Now that we settle this, please follow me."
"I wouldn't say mature boy since I am 20 years old, but somehow my body aged 4 years less, making me 16. This sucks. I'm sure that John and Michael and even Jack would laugh at me after knowing that I lost... I mean... recovered 4 years of my life." Joshua mumbled as he followed the professor.
The professor walked leaving Josh who went behind him, as both of them walked at a table with 3 pokeballs above it.
With his eyes opening wide, Josh looked at the Professor in disbelief.
"No way." Josh couldn't believe his eyes, 3 pokeballs above the table, which is the symbolic most traditional event for all the players of pokemon red, blue, yellow, fire red, and leaf green.
"It seems that you understand what's going to happen. Hahaha." Professor Oak chuckled as the boy in front of him with his eyes looked at the pokeballs like it's a treasure. "Well, in 9 days there will be a group of 3 kids who will be 10 years old. And they will start their journey as pokemon trainers and follow their dreams to become a master-pokemon. And knowing how passionate you were about sharing your stories with not just me but to my pokemon and this little Ditto... I think that in 9 days when the Rotom finishes making full access to your equipment... You are free to go on your own journey."
"SERIOUSLY!?" Josh couldn't help but be more excited, now that having another good reason for being patient, he didn't know that his day could become even better.
"It's a little payment from your kindness to share your equipment with me, Joshua. And knowing that you are a responsible boy, I know that I did the right thing by writing a letter to the league assembly to register you as a pokemon trainer." Professor Oak gave some taps on Josh's shoulder as he walked beside the table. "They will give me a confirmation letter in 7 days, and in 9 the equipment will be ready. So I think it's time for you to learn a few tips and advice from this old man."
Josh's eyes became sharp as he raised his head to the professor who liked the way he saw the flames of a trainer growing inside of the young boy.
"Number 1, pokemon must eat the same way as you. You must understand that most people would let them inside of the pokeballs and while that sounds easy, it's not that easy at all. You must understand that Poke Centers are the best place for staying for your pokemon because they do not just treat your pokemon, but they even give them food and shelter when they need it. But in case you are in the middle of the forest, or inside of a cave." Professor Oak gave a point that made Josh's eyes go wide open. Something that not even nuzlockes managed to do. So all the pokemon must eat in case of the adventure. "That's why you always must have pokemon food with you during your journey. Now Number 2, money. Being around all the cities is good, but you must have money to be able to buy not just pokemon food, but you need more pokeballs, potions to treat your pokemon and even some repels and proteins for your pokemon to train and become stronger."
Now that's a subject that Josh was very aware of before. Always use the money with wisdom and understand the idea of always being ready to have money.
"I advise you to find a way to make money by yourself, as I can give you a few investments. I cannot guarantee since I have other trainers to take care of and they would need more money than you since you are 16 and they have 10 years. I hope you understand."
"No no no. I understand perfectly Professor. Don't worry about it. I will find my ways to have money." Josh knew full well that he wouldn't receive support from the professor and knew that he must find ways of receiving money. He has some ideas about what to do, since in the time before he comes to Pallet, he found his way to survive since he was disowned by his family.
"I'm glad you have understood that, well now it comes about the third and most important. Which one do you want to start with?" Professor Oak raised his arms as he made Josh's eyes sparkle, and think carefully about what he should do.
"DITTO." The loud shout from the pokemon, made both professor and the boy turn their heads to see the Ditto crawling at them, as the slimy pokemon raised its arms and pointed happily at the bowl which looked empty, sounding proud of managing to eat the food.
As both humans chuckled at the little pokemon, they saw Ditto walking toward them. The pokemon even pulled slightly the pants of the young man who went to him and offered his hand to raise him at the sight of the table.
"Well, it seems that I don't need to choose anymore. I think I already have the answer to my questions before even asking." Josh smiled as the little Ditto looked at the pokeballs above the table. "Hey, buddy. Do you want to be my starter pokemon?"
The slimy pokemon's mouth went wide open as its simple eyes sparkled and his voice showed great joy.
"Diiiiiitooooo." The slime pokemon nodded its head as it became happy to be with a friend who has been with him at the tempest.
"Well, it seems that you already are into a decision... Well, I was hoping that was the case." Professor smiled as he took a Pokeball from his pocket. "Well Josh, could you do the honors?"
Josh, after holding a simple small Pokeball, was the first time that he ever felt such contact. It looked so small and so awesome, he was excited at the moment he clicked and it grew up the size of his palm.
"Here friend. You just need to touch it and then you will be captured." Josh made sure that it was in front of the pokemon, which used its arm to touch it, and then a glimpse of light was shown after the Pokeball went open and close in a second, as the lights of the Pokeball started glimpsing, 1 light, 2 light, 3 light, and done. The capture was perfect. "Perfect."
"It seems that you both will become a great duo. I have to confess Joshua, Ditto is a wildcard, but not many trainers would find the value of having a Ditto on the team." Professor Oak smiled sadly the moment Josh opened his pokeball, releasing the Ditto who looked happy at his new pocket home.
"Well Professor, I never thought that I would have a Ditto in my team since I know the ups and downs of having one. But I know I can find a way to make sure that this little guy will not just become a strong pokemon, but a champion as well..." Josh smiled as the little slime pokemon raised its head and nodded to his trainer.
"Well said, Josh. Well, since you will be here for 9 days, I recommend that you and Ditto start training and develop a connection between you two. Having a great connection between your pokemon will help you to know its limits and even go beyond self-improvement." As the professor watched the duo happy with each other as partners. He instructed the boy to make sure that it was time for them to learn how to be a proper team for the future that they will have. "Why not use my field, which has some pokemon willing to help you to gain experience as a trainer and give your pokemon the experience of combat?"
Josh, with Ditto on his shoulder, looked at the professor while giving him a nod understanding his advice.
"Right. Thank you, Professor Oak. We will be out for a while. Thank you for this opportunity." Josh gave a slight bow to show his gratitude, as Ditto curved its body as a sign of gratitude as well. "Let's go Ditto."
"Ditto." Both the future trainer and his slime pokemon left the laboratory as Professor Oak smiled as he took his Pokeball.
"It seems that in 9 days, I may have released a monster instead of a single boy. Well, it's not my problem anyway." Professor Oak shrugged his arms as he released a Rottom on his front. "Good afternoon Rotom, I got a task for you to do during these 9 days... We got a lot of work to do during these 9 days. So I hope you can help your friend from the old times once again."
" . .bzz." The electric pokemon passed through the entire laboratory energy plug before giving a good look at the three new electronics over the laboratory. " . ."
"I hope you are ready to work because I want you to make sure that everything is intact. So please, check everything and be careful to not damage anything from in there. I made a promise to a new friend." Professor Oak had his eyes closed, but noticing the little giggle from the lighting pokemon, he knew that he understood his intentions. "Okay, you can start the merging process."
"BZZZ...ROTOM... .RO." The pokemon inserted itself not just in the cellphone, but he quickly got inside the tablet and the laptop at the same time. As the professor looked at the equipment it showed a slight light and a signal of battery charging from all of them. "9 days Rotom, do not get in a hurry."
The slight light on the screen showed a concur from the pokemon which was doing his own process of merging.
Leaving the laboratory to the backyard area, Josh admired the great open area which looked like a farm.
"Man, it's amazing that they didn't add this in pokemon let's go Pikachu. Having an entire field like that, it's like an entire open field for whatever pokemon would live here. I wouldn't be surprised that this entire area could be a mix of the entire pokemon fire red cities just to fit the pokemon." Josh admired as he looked around, not noticing that Ditto looked at him confused.
"Ditto?" The slime pokemon turned its head making Josh snap from his thoughts.
"Oh yeah, I forgot it. Well, Ditto, since we are going to be partners, you are going to need good training since I know full well which gyms we are going to hit first. And for that, I want to brainstorm with you. I want you to show me your technique... And this way we will find ways to develop strategies." Josh said as he took Ditto from his shoulder and placed it on the floor. "Since your skill is transformation, then we should develop it in a way that nobody would expect."
Looking around Josh walked carefully until found a group of Rattatas eating fruits. His smile turned wide as an idea appeared on its head. Getting back to his Ditto, he placed him over his shoulder and walked into a safe distance.
"Okay Ditto, here is your training. Transform into Rattata." Josh commanded in a whisper, as Ditto looked at the pokemon a few steps away from him.
The body exchanged creating purple fur as it became smaller and soon the body became a perfect shape of Rattata. But with a little problem, its face showed the eyes of a Ditto instead of the normal Rattata eyes.
"Good work Ditto, now let's get back to our spot before we get notice." Josh, smiling at the transformed pokemon, decided to leave the family of pokemon alone with their meal as he kept a good distance from them. "Now Ditto, we know that you transformed into Rattata. Now I will explain what you are right now okay?"
"Rattata." Ditto now into a new transformation developed even the voice of the pokemon itself.
"Rattata is a most traditional pokemon for beginner trainers. With basic stats as 30hp /Attack56 / 35Defense/ /25SpecialAttack/ 35SpecialDefense/ and 72 Speed. Which makes a total of 253 stats points." Josh as a nuzlocker player, Josh memorized the pokemon stats when he played a lot of times in the real world. A Rattata is one of the easiest pokemon to memorize the stats since he used Rattata for one simple reason. "While this sounds a bit imprudent for me to say, I want you to memorize this status every time you transform into Rattata because I want you to pay attention to this form while using it. At the moment you get used to this transformation and get ready you will release this form and transform once again, but without looking at Rattata."
"Rattata?" The disbelief cry from the rodent in his arms, made Josh understand the question made by the pokemon.
"I know that it's something different from your nature to do, but that's because Ditto mostly uses it to transform in case of self-preservation. But I know a story of a Ditto which taught us a valuable lesson as to understand the true potential of Dittos." Josh smiled as the eyes of Ditto inside of the Rattata body looked to show a glimpse. "At the moment you finish this training, I will tell you the story of a Ditto and a Charmander."
"Rattata." Ditto nodded as it remained as a Rattata when Josh placed it on the floor.
"Take your time. I will stay here until you get ready. I want you to memorize the sensations of your body and if you want, I will keep saying the status points for you to understand. So by yourself, transform your body until it becomes the weak version of the pokemon you transformed into. Even with your own health, you need to make it weaker, that way when you become stronger and transform into something stronger, your health will get stronger as well. That's the purpose of restraining training." Josh sat on the grass as he looked at the Rattata, who seemed to remain in conflict, as it tried to calm down and concentrate all the cells of its body. "I know it will take longer, but don't worry. We have 9 days and within that time frame, I want you to understand a potential you have that nobody ever saw and I promise you, that you will be one of the strongest pokemon once we become champions. If you want to retire and become a champion breeder, I will totally fine with that."
"RATTATA!?" The rodent pokemon cried aloud at the statement and surprisingly the pale face showed a thin shade of purple blush.
Josh chuckled from the reaction of the Ditto.
"Dittos are known to be the father and mother of many pokemon and if you want to retire just to hook with whatever pokemon you want, I would say go for it. But for now, let's just win the championship and become champions first." Josh smiled as the pokemon tried to hide its blush but failed miserably. Now focusing on its training is something that the slime pokemon never thought the future would have. It isn't mature to have such responsibility, but saying what in the future? The pokemon wanted to be strong, then it decided to concentrate further on its training, leaving Josh to watch what would be a boring training but a necessary one. "30hp /Attack56 / 35Defense/ /25SpecialAttack/ 35SpecialDefense/ and 72 Speed. Which makes a total of 253 stats points."
The training will take much effort for the slime pokemon.
In the middle of the night, Josh came with a tired slime on his arms, knowing full well that the Ditto passed the entire afternoon making such difficult training. Using his pokeball, he pressed the button which made the pokemon get inside of the pokeball.
"You did well Ditto. Even though you failed, you did your best. It's difficult now, but in the future, this skill will be our ace card." Josh got inside the pokemon lab as he saw professor Oak studying his books which made Josh surprised from such a view. "Professor? Shouldn't you be at home now?"
"Oh Joshua, I was kinda wondering when you both would get here. I have something to tell you. Rotom decided to make the merge on 3 of your equipment at the same time, so I advise you to not use any of them until Rotom finishes the procedure." The professor closed the book at the boy, who tilted his head confused, staring at the professor.
"I thought you said that Rotom would use one technology per time." Josh narrowed his eyes while Professor Oak nodded his head to him.
"I said it, but it seems that Rotom wanted to overcharge himself and make the slowest possible while he checked all the equipment at once. Sharing his mind at the same time makes him slower and more focused, this way he will not have any hurry, and the procedure will work even better than what I planned." Samuel Oak knew the doubts of the trainer who was in front of him and dismissed his thoughts as he gave Josh a few papers and a pencil. "I know that you would get bored, so that's why I brought some paper for you to make some drawings about the pokemon you know. If you want to pass the time, I can do some research about pokemon from a friend of mine so they would need care and dedication. So if you help me I would really appreciate it."
Josh knows that most of the days he would need to wait for Rotom to make the duplicate of his equipment, he cannot force Ditto to train all the time, or that would make his friend suffer from exhaustion and burn himself up. And that would be a terrible decision.
"Okay professor, I will help you with the pokemon." Having nothing better to do, the pokemon trainer agreed to help the researcher to take care of the pokemon.
"That's wonderful. Tomorrow we will have some pokemon to treat. See you tomorrow, Professor." After giving the book and the paper to the young boy to draw something, the professor didn't waste time and went back home to his family.
"He has a good heart, but I have to confess that he is annoying sometimes. Is that why the pokemon always attack him on his videos?" Josh wondered aloud as he went back to his bed. Not knowing how spot-on was his assumption.
As the morning started, Josh woke up early to help Professor Oak to treat the pokemon from a trainer in Saffron city. An elder who had some interesting pokemon for the researcher does his studies.
Josh found it kinda hilarious seeing that his assumptions were corrected after seeing an Arcanine get annoyed by the professor and ended up shooting a flamethrower on him. Showing that even if that hurt, it wouldn't end up with a third-degree burn, which looks surprising to him. It just made his face covered with slightly burning and covered black as charcoal.
As the young boy started to understand the concepts of treating the pokemon with food and taking care of them like they were pets on some occasions and battling monsters on others. It seems that this experience opened Josh's eyes to a way he never thought was possible.
Imagining nuzlockes as you need to pet your pokemon, give them food, and even see by yourself the ups and downs of each pokemon. It's something that would make you enjoy the nuzlockes more but even makes it 10 times more difficult. He would imagine that if you put more effort into doing that, losing a friend in a battle would be a worse fatal blow to the pokemon players... Josh felt that pokemon nuzlockes were actually a cruel way to see life and he hoped that he would never do that to his friends.
After 30 minutes of being melancholic, trying to take the imagination of the pokemon he was caring to be killed in cruel ways, he decided to take a break and eat something as he saw Oddish get mad at professor Oak and launch spores on him which made him inhale and sleep on the floor.
"A good professor. Clumsy, but still a good one." Josh said after taking the professor's body and laying him on the bed, which was the one he was using.
Knowing that the first day would end up like that, Josh took all the pokemon and left them in the backyard, to let them run free and enjoy their time on the field. Leaving him alone to train with Ditto once again.
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"Okay Ditto. Now this time we will not try to sneak into a Rattatas' nest, but instead, we must overcome this obstacle. I know you can do it." Josh sat as he saw Ditto cowering its body and concentrating so much that soon the fur started growing to its body and little by little the body of a Rattata was replaced instead.
"Rattata." Ditto smiled as Josh nodded his head in approval.
"You did great Ditto, but now this is an ability you need to get used to. You must do this again and again until your mind is mentally prepared to do this easily." Josh smiled satisfied when phase one of the skill was almost completed. Soon after Ditto gets used by using its transformation into other pokemon by using its memories, Josh will start phase 2 of its training. But for that, he would need his tablet or cellphone to make the next step of the training.
"rattata." Ditto said tiredly as it looked disappointed to hear the command from his trainer.
"I know it sucks Ditto, but trust me, you learned how to transform without looking at the pokemon. We will improve your mind and your instincts to make you become an even stronger Ditto, that nobody would expect it. But now that you finally managed to transform, turn back and let me tell you about the story of Ditto and a Charmander." Josh knew that he must use the stick and the carrot, he would help his pokemon to grow up in a way that would surpass any limit made by the games, and even with the steps being slow, he will manage to take each with a solid step in the right direction.
The little rodent then transformed itself back to the slime pokemon which looked expectantly at the story which the trainer promised him to tell.
"Ditto." Ditto moved its body up and down showing how excited it was.
Chuckling from his reaction, Josh sat on the grass and looked at the Ditto.
"Okay, let me tell you a story about a Charmander and a Ditto:
Once upon a time, a little breed Charmander hatched from his egg, and the first thing he saw in front of him was a big Charizard offering its paw to him. After seeing it for the first time the first word came from the Charmander. "Daddy." As the little pokemon hugged his father in love.
A few days later Charmander was playing with a happy Venusaur which raised him with his vines. A few hours later the rain started to pour around the forest, leaving Charmander protecting his tails while being under Ludicolo's arms as a form of shield to protect from the rain.
At night the little Charmander slept in the fur of a big Arcanine, protected and warm.
When hungry the little Charmander would take the banana fruits from Tropius and have a good meal.
When hurt an Audino would heal him to make sure that all the hurt from the little Charmander would go away.
And even tired at night, Altaria's feathers would be like a great pillow for the Charmander to sleep.
Riding a Standler to explore new places to learn.
He felt scared when an Ursaring wanted to attack him, but a Tyranitar was there to protect the little Charmander who was scared.
The same Charmander hugged the same Tyranitar who seemed hurt, but victorious from the battle he was.
Then the little Charmander evolved into a Charmeleon.
Which was trained to punch and fight with a Medicham.
Learned how to pick fruits with a Pansage.
Learned how to use his fire with a Flareon.
Until he evolved into a Charizard.
Which learned how to fly with a Wingull.
Then he decided to have a talk with a Staraptor.
"I can fly, I can hunt, I can fight." The Charizard looked at the ocean as the Staraptor waited for the words of the pokemon. "Daddy, you have been protecting me so far. Now it's my turn to protect you."
The Staraptor smiled happily.
"How time flies." The Staraptor then became a Charizard. "You've grown up, my child."
At that moment the Charizard became his true form, a slime pokemon named Ditto.
"We have not visited your mom for a long time. Can you carry me there this time?" The little Ditto asked as the big pokemon smiled at his own father.
"Sure dad."
And both of them flew to a blossoming garden with a simple tombstone there. As the Charizard gave a simple flower on the tombstone.
"Mom, we are back." Said the Charizard as he smiled at the tombstone as the Ditto was over his shoulders."
"And that's the story of a Charmander and the Ditto." Josh finished its tale, as he looked at the slimy pokemon which was with so many tears in its eyes.
"DITOOOOOOOOO, DITOOOOOOO." The crying pokemon was so touched by the story that even used the pants of the trainer as tissue and started cleaning his nose on it.
Josh would have found that really annoying if it wasn't for the fact that he cried when he read the comic for the first time, so he doesn't blame the pokemon for feeling so touched by the story. But what he didn't expect was seeing an Oddish, an Arcanine, an Onix, a Kadabra, and even a Graveler be around and crying at the story once said before.
"Err..." Josh didn't know what to do at that moment, so he decided to focus on his own pokemon. "Ditto, I told this story because I know that you will use the same skill as the father who did everything for his Charizard. I know the true potential you have, you just need to believe in yourself, and then you will see that the future is bright as the stars. Believe in yourself."
Ditto, hearing the motivations from his trainer, cleaned its tears, and looked determined to show the world what nobody has ever seen before. He would become the second Ditto to transform many pokemon without visuals. He would become stronger than most pokemon. That's his promise.
And Josh himself knew that soon he will start his journey, and both of them will be the first pokemon champion. And after becoming a champion, he will decide what he will do in the future.
Author's note:
I want to apologize to everyone who's been having issues while reading the new chapter since my program Grammarly wasn't working well. And I want to make a huge thanks to Valkoor who has helped me to edit this chapter. Thanks, dude.
