Jason Creight awoke on a crisp fall morning in the grasses of Johto.

He looked over at his two companions. Tommy was stirring, and Kelly was squirming. Jason didn't know whether her squirming qualified her as awake, but he hoped so. He'd been training for a while, and he was finally ready to begin competition in the Johto League. Now that he was registered, he was ready to give it his all.

And hopefully more.

"Morning," said Jason, as he struggled to get his pants on over his shorts. It was rather cool today, and though he was unable to feel temperature in his legs, he felt it best to put pants on anyway. Besides, the sight of his spindly, anorexic legs might abate the gym leader's courage.

And as much as that tempted the paraplegic teen, he'd just as soon not to have to deal with that.

"Morning," Tommy responded. He was just sitting up and getting into a change of clothes, as well. He noticed Jason's own struggle. "Need any help?"

"No, thanks," said Jason. "I'll manage." Once again, he cursed the day he'd lost the use of his legs.

Finally, he managed to wrestle the pants on. He then pushed and shoved his way into his wheelchair and put on a shirt.

Tommy grinned. "Ready to face down your first Johto gym leader?"

"Ready and willing," said Jason. He looked down at the still form of his girlfriend. "Now, if only she were as enthusiastic as either of us..."

"Shut up," Kelly muttered. "I'm in the process of waking up. It takes me a while, unlike you two."

"Yeah, sure," said Tommy, continuing to smile. "We've heard it all before."

"I'm sure you have. It just happens to be true for me."

Jason, a creature of habit, had decided to upload history files on his new adversaries into his new-model Pokedex. He knew that all the Johto gym leaders favored three-on-three battles, at least for the moment. After seeing that Falkner favored birds, he had chosen to try and help Dratini learn an electric attack. Its thunderbolt attack was impressive, to say the least; it could split a tree in two. As for Gyarados, it already knew thunder, and Ampharos would theoretically be able to back them up in case they didn't make it.

Jason sat back and waited for his companions to give the go.

He was ready.

***

The trio of trainers approached the Violet City Gym. Jason and Tommy were ready to go in, but Kelly was somewhat daunted by the place. "It's been a while since I've been in a gym, guys."

"Hey, same for both of us," Tommy replied. "But it's not stopping us. Hope it's not stopping you."

"No way," Kelly shot back.

They entered the gym.

And found it was nothing but a stadium floor and four walls.

Jason knew to keep his guard up. Falkner favored birds, and he was supremely confident in his abilities.

As if synchronized with Jason's thoughts, a giant Pidgeot came swooping down out of the sky and alighted directly in front of the trio.

Kelly jumped back. Tommy stood his ground.

Jason stared up dispassionately at the figure mounted atop the flying Pokemon. He wore a simple outfit of light blue material, a thin chain of a necklace, long brown hair, and an unreadable expression.

"Welcome, trainers, to the Violet City Gym. My name is Falkner, and I am the gym leader here," he announced. He looked down at Jason, and his left eyebrow rose incrementally. "You're a Pokemon trainer?"

"I wouldn't be here if I wasn't," Jason replied. "What's more, I'm a determined Pokemon trainer looking for a badge or two. That said, I challenge you to a Pokemon battle."

"You're rather direct. I like that." Falkner stepped off his Pidgeot, recalled it, and returned its Poke ball to his belt. "Looking at you, I think I recognize you. You won the Indigo League championship a few years ago, am I correct?"

"You are," Jason replied.

"Well, hopefully you've kept up a strict regime. Because the Indigo League is just a warm-up, compared to this one!" He stepped back to his side of the stadium and tossed a Poke ball. "Go, Pidgeotto!"

The Pidgeotto Falkner had called out cawed agressively.

Jason wheeled himslf to the other side and removed the one Poke ball he possessed. "We'll see about that. Take it to 'em, Gyarados!"

The aptly named atrocious Pokemon emerged and growled at its foe.

A small grin touched Falkner's lips. "Let's keep an eye out, Pidgeotto. I wouldn't doubt if it had thunder, otherwise he wouldn't have called it."

"Gyarados, use iron tail!" Jason called, ignoring Falkner's commentary.

As they watched, Gyarados' tail underwent an amazing transformation from scales and flesh to organic steel. It approached Pidgeotto as the bird tried to evade its enemy's transformed tail.

"Pidgeotto, use steel wing!" Falkner called back.

Pidgeotto's wings also tranformed to organic steel and became not unlike a Skarmory's wings. It dove in.

Too late. Gyarados had anticipated the direct approach from its foe and knew exactly how to avoid it. It ducked straight under Pidgeotto, stuck its steel tail into the air, and allowed the bird Pokemon to crash head-on into it.

Pidgeotto dropped like a rock. It landed on its feet, but it stumbled around, dizzy from the attack.

"Gyarados, give it a good shock to the system!" said Jason.

Gyarados summoned all its strength in the elements and conjured a great bolt of electricity. It struck Pidgeotto in the back.

The flying Pokemon didn't get up.

"Pidgeotto, return," said Falkner. Then he threw another Poke ball. "Go, Dodrio!"

A three-headed bird with the proportions of a flamingo appeared. Only one head cawed at Gyarados.

"Dodrio, tri attack!"

"Gyarados, thunder!"

Water began to slosh at everyone's feet (and in Jason's case, wheels) as the triple-element attack was unleashed. Gyarados avoided the water as the second element--electricity--was called upon. No one else was harmed.

The third and final attack--fire--struck Gyarados in the midsection, but Gyarados simply shook it off.

And then it blasted Dodrio with its own electric attack.

Dodrio hit the wet ground and managed to avoid the attack.

"Good job, Dodrio, now use drill peck!"

Dodrio sprinted toward Gyarados and drilled it in the midsection with three whirring beaks.

Gyarados went down, but it came back up.

"Gyarados, use hydro pump!"

Gyarados sprayed Dodrio with an immeasurable amount of water.

Falkner tsk-ed at Jason. "You should have used thunder. Dodrio, tri attack again!"

More water splashed about, water which Gyarados took momentary refuge in.

Dodrio switched the order of its remaining attacks and used fire as the next one.

It struck home.

Gyarados hit the floor again, but got back up after a moment's struggle.

And then Dodrio unleashed its electric attack.

Falkner hadn't counted on the attack backfiring. Yet backfire it did. The water that Gyarados had sprayed onto Dodrio acted as a partial insulator, causing the attack to affect both it and Gyarados equally.

Both Pokemon went down.

Neither got up.

The trainers recalled their Pokemon.

"Good job," said Falkner. "You'll make a good Pokemon master, if you defeat me and all the others."

"Oh, I will. Count on it. But for the moment, this battle takes precedence," said Jason. He pulled out an Ultra ball and tossed it. "Go, Dratini!"

A burst of twinkling sparkles emerged from the ball, as did Dratini a moment later.

Falkner's eyes got wider. "What sort of a Dratini is *that*?"

"Mine," Jason responded dispassionately. "And it's a special one, too."

Falkner removed his final Poke ball from his belt. "I hate to battle something so amazing, but I'm afraid it's league rules. I can find out later. Go, Pidgeot!"

The Pidgeot from earlier re-emerged and stared at its opponent in curiosity. It cocked its head to one side, then the other.

"Pidgeot, fly!"

Pidgeot wasted no time in carrying out its master's order and took to the air.

"Dratini, safeguard!"

Dratini conjured a mystical wall, separating it from its enemy.

Falkner grunted. "Pidgeot, finish the attack, we won't get anything out of it."

Pidgeot struck the wall between it and Dratini, but got nothing out of the attack. It returned to the ground.

Jason allowed a small grin. "Dratini, wrap attack!"

Before Pidgeot or Falkner could react, Dratini wrapped itself around its opponent and began crushing it.

Falkner grit his teeth. "Pidgeot, try to break free!"

"No, you don't," Jason muttered. Louder, he said, "Dratini, thunderbolt attack!"

Dratini strained with all its might, both physically and mentally. It was difficult, keeping Pidgeot in place and attempting an attack at the same time.

Jason wasn't disappointed. The electric current ran throughout Pidgeot's entire body.

Dratini released it.

It dropped to the ground.

It stayed down.

Falkner groaned. "Pidgeot, return."

And then...

Dratini began to glow a blinding white.

Jason stared. *It's evolving!*

Everyone surrounded the glowing dragon Pokemon.

It began to grow. Its shape changed.

Four circular objects grew from the end of its tail. Another, larger one grew out of its neck.

Ornamental wings gre out the top of its head.

The glow faded.

And a sparkling red Dragonair stared up at Jason.

[That felt wonderful!] it enthused. [Amazing! Like nothing I've ever felt before! I wish I could describe it!]

Jason grinned. "Don't worry. You might find the words someday."

[Can I feel it again?] it asked eagerly. [Can you help me feel it again?]

Jason nodded. "Yes, I can. And I will. I'll keep training you, don't you worry about that. But for now, savor the moment when you evolve again. It'll be for the last time."

[I can only do it once more?] Its tone was rather sobered and saddened by this revelation.

"I'm afraid so. But I think you should consider yourself lucky. Some Pokemon feel it only once. Or never at all. Falkner's Dodrio, for example, only knew the sensation once. So did his Pidgeotto. His Pidgeot was fortunate enough to do it twice. But no Pokemon can do it more than twice."

"Yes, you should definitely consider yourself lucky," said Falkner, coming closer. He glanced at Jason. "Both of you should consider yourselves lucky." He looked at Dragonair. "You have a rare and beautiful gift... yourself. And you," and he turned to Jason, "are a remarkable trainer."

"Thank you," said Jason. "That means a lot from a gym leader."

"I know. That's why I said it. And also because it's true."

Jason nodded respectfully to Falkner. "And as noted, much appreciated." He turned back to Dragonair. "Do you want to come back into your Ultra ball, or do you want to stay out?"

Dragonair considered. [I think, for now, I want to stay out.] It looked itself over. [This is amazing!]

Jason took a good look at his new Dragonair. It was somewhat longer than a normal Dragonair, but not by much. The ornamental wings on its head were longer and looked even more sleek than those of a normal one, if that was possible. The orbs on its tail and neck glowed a neon blue, as did its innocent eyes. And, of course, its body sparkled red.

Unique to all Dragonairs.

Unique to all Pokemon.

Jason grinned. "I have no doubt. You make me wish I could feel it."

[I wish you could, too.] Dragonair looked at Jason wistfully. [It's a shame you can't.]

"Oh, I'm sure my time will come soon enough," Jason responded.

***

As they continued their journey through the modest dirt roads of Johto, Tommy glanced at Jason. "What did you mean when you said you were sure your time would come soon?"

"I'm not quite sure," said Jason.

Tommy snorted. "Then you said it for nothing."

"No, I said it for a reason. I'm just getting this terrible sense of foreboding, as if something big and disastrous were about to happen." Jason shook his head. "Not quite sure whether to trust it or not, though."

"Koga taught us to trust our instincts," said Tommy. "Maybe you should put a little faith in yours."

"If something big and disastrous happens, I will," Jason answered. "Until then, I don't think I'm going to put too much stock in what I had for breakfast."

Tommy shrugged. "Suit yourself. But when someone comes stepping over *my* grave, I'll take it seriously."

"You do that. For now, let's keep going."

***

A fist-sized, concentrated mass of flesh, blood, and bone floated in the middle of the container of fluid. The fluid was delicately balanced. Thirty-five hundred milligrams of metabolytes suspended in a hydro-saline solution, combined with refined nutrients and steroids, kept the mass...

Alive? It wasn't alive by any normal standard. It had no heart, much less a heartbeat. Nor did it have a brain.

Yet its blood pumped through its minuscule form. It looked almost like a fish, a fish with limbs slowly growing from its sides.

A fish with wings beginning to sprout from its back.

Thermographic scans were even indicating deposits of an unknown metal pocking the mass all along its form.

It was growing. Slowly, but surely, it was growing. The simulations showed that it would become exactly what they needed it to be.

Alive.

Sentient.

The scientists were not pleased with their employer.

"You'd think that after that business with the old lab, he'd learn not to ask us to do this," one of them muttered.

"Obviouly, he hasn't," a second one responded.

"Guys, I don't like this any more than you do," the lead scientist replied. "But he's paying us well for this, so we should try to give him results."

"Money in exchange for our souls," griped the second one. "This is-- inhuman. It's sick. It perverts everything about our research." He shoved a finger in the lead scientist's direction. "And being a survivor of that lab, you ought to know that."

The accused shook his head slowly. "It'll be different this time, I promise. R&D came up with a device to make it incapable of ignoring commands from its master."

"It's still sick. That abomination you helped create destroyed the very people that engineered its existence. And now he's asking us to do it again?" The skeptic shook his head. "Why? What does he hope to gain by it?"

"Knowledge."

All the scientists started at the new voice.

The voice of the man who was funding the project.

A shadow was all that stood in the entrance to the lab, a Persian standing at its side. The shadow stared at them with cold, pitiless eyes. "Knowledge is all I want. Is it not what you want?"

The angular face softened in a malevolent smile. "Best you get to work, before I retract my funding."

The skeptic spun around from his work station. "The knowledge we wanted to gain was meant for the benefit of mankind."

"As is the knowledge I want."

The skeptic shook his head again. "No. What you want is nothing less than conquest, and I won't stand for it. Forget you and your funding. I'd rather keep my soul, thank you."

The shadow tilted its head. "Then you are welcome to leave. I will not stop you."

It stood aside from the entrance to make room.

The skeptic frowned. "That's all?"

"Of course. What else would there be?"

The skeptic stood for a moment, uncertain.

Everyone in the lab was watching him.

He stripped his lab coat off, dropped it unceremoniously on the ground, and brushed past the shadow on his way out.

No heart dared beat.

The shadow stared after the departed scientist.

It glanced down at the Persian, still positioned next to the doorway.

"Persian..." it softly uttered.

***

Six days later, the trio found themselves approaching Azalea Town.

Jason and Kelly's thoughts were on battling the gym leader, Bugsy.

Tommy's mind was elsewhere.

Jason grinned as he watched Tommy ogle the local trees. "What, did Koga teach you to love nature so much as to marry a sapling?"

Kelly attempted to restrain herself from laughing, but ended up emitting a loud snort of amusement.

Tommy returned Jason's grin and approached one of the trees. "As a matter of fact, I was just noting that these trees are dropping ripe apricorns."

Jason wheeled himself over to the tree Tommy was admiring and saw that he was right. "Yeah. So?"

"*So*, Pokemon trainers of old used apricorns to capture Pokemon, since they lacked the technology to make capture balls."

Jason nodded slightly. "I remember reading about that, but I've always been in the dark as to exactly *how* they managed it. Something about hitting the Pokemon in the exact right spot, wasn't it?"

"Yeah, that's why most failed Pokemon trainers grew up to become minor league pitchers instead," Tommy joked. Then he knelt down to inspect one of the apricorns. He picked it up between thumb and forefinger. "Flawless. This should do well for Kurt."

"Who's Kurt?" asked Kelly, beating Jason to the punch.

"A very old, very wise man. Kurt makes capture balls for a living, and he makes them out of apricorns. Only certain apricorns can be used to make the capture balls."

"And what, do these capture balls have some special trait?" Jason asked.

"Yeah. Aside from unique designs to identify each kind, they each have a unique ability to make capturing certain Pokemon a little easier."

"Like...?" Kelly let the question dangle.

Tommy stood up and put the apricorn in his backpack. "Well, I've only seen two or three different kinds. There's one that helps making extremely heavy Pokemon a little easier to catch."

"Boy, I could've used that when I was catching Snorlax," Kelly muttered.

"Then there's a kind that helps catch water types, and I think there's one that almost guarantees a capture for a low-level Pokemon."

"Sounds interesting," said Jason. "Suddenly, I've a mind to start picking apricorns. Maybe we'll meet more ball makers along the way."

"Maybe," said Tommy. "But Kurt is the best."

"No doubt."

They continued along the path in relative silence for another fifteen minutes.

Kelly broke the silence. "Tommy, I've been wondering when we were going to see some of your good Pokemon."

Tommy chuckled. "Why should you care what Pokemon I've got? Planning to battle me?"

"Nah. I just figured that since you've seen mine and Jason's, you might return the favor sometime."

He looked at her. "I have. You've seen the Pokemon I'm taking with me. Rattata, Hoothoot, Sentret, Pidgey, Doduo..."

She snorted. "Low-level Pokemon which haven't had much time under your wing. I saw you capture that Pidgey with almost no effort at all."

He sighed impatiently. "Your point?"

"I think that you are better at training than you're letting on. I think you have Pokemon that are a lot more powerful than the ones you've got. Maybe..."

"Maybe... what?" asked Tommy.

"Maybe you've got Pokemon that we don't even know about yet."

He grinned and looked away. "That's ridiculous. You already have 226 Pokemon on-file. Researchers thought that there were only 150, originally."

"Exactly. And what if you had one of those still not yet discovered?"

Tommy chuckled again. "You're paranoid. Just because I might not be showing you the full scope of my abilities doesn't mean I have something else to hide."

"But why hide your true abilities as a trainer, when you could be using them to great effect?"

Tommy shrugged. "Simple. I'm more interested in watching Jason train. It's what I came along with him for. My brothers saw that my training methods were little more than a mesh of their own. But I'm not either of my brothers. They kept suggesting to me that I get out, find other people to travel with, and discover my true talents as a trainer." He looked back up. "And I have."

A mischievous look caught her eye. "Then maybe you wouldn't mind proving it in battle, after all."

He shook his head. "Not now. The Pokemon I've got with me are Pokemon I've not captured before."

She gaped at him. "You're joking. Even I went for Rattatas and Pidgeys when I started out."

"I'm not joking. When I first started, I only wanted to go for what I thought were the good ones. But now I've come to realize that there aren't good ones or bad ones. They're all different. I've got to embrace their diversity."

"Uh-huh," said Kelly, not convinced.

Tommy threw up his arms, exasperated. "What do you want from me?"

"You've mentioned the five Pokemon we know you captured. We've only seen you with those five," said Kelly. "But what about that sixth ball on your belt?"

Tommy's hand went to the ball in question protectively. "What about it?"

"I'd just like to know what's in it," she responded, amused by his response.

Tommy forced his hand away from the ball. "Nothing."

"Oh, really? No Pokemon in there at all?"

He shook his head. "Of course not. I just like to make it *look* like I've got six Pokemon. It intimidates other people that way."

Jason shook his head, but wheeled on in silence. He knew precisely which Pokemon was in that ball. He'd watched Tommy capture that one, and he knew that Tommy wasn't going to let Kelly see it very easily.

*Though, with its abilities,* he thought, *it does a mighty good job keeping itself hidden.*

Jason Creight brooded on.

To Be Continued