Chapter Fourteen: Questioning.


A Dragonair slipped into the human's tent. Her mission was clear – a simple process, really.

She exposed the human's relevant skin, and began to burn into it, using a combination of Hyper Beam and Outrage.

Once the patterns were completed, she left, making it seem she was never there.


Chris woke early. He was nervous – today the dragons said they'd gather all the pokemon they could, for that 'speaking to their people' thing. He was so preoccupied, he ignored most everything else.

Including the sensation that he would have normally felt – pain in an area that usually didn't hurt.


Chris almost flinched, meeting so many eyes. Most of the pokemon nearby were here.

(Relax. They know you don't bite.)

"Yea. I don't. You do."

(Hardly funny.)


Anekiro tilted his head, trying to understand, as the two pitched insults at each other in rapid succession.

(How do they get along? They seem like they hate each other.)

Mathrara yipped from behind Anekiro, making him jump. (Don't worry about it. It's their way to try to deal with tension. I think.)

Anekiro blinked, and turned his attention back to his parents. It was an odd way to relieve tension.


Chris sighed, and glanced at the collection of Dragonairs. "Could we get rolling, before I lose what little nerve I have?"

(Very well. Assembled dragons, and pokemon of other types, this is Chris. Though he is a human, we have named him a gifted one. He understands us, and has agreed willingly to speak to us about the human world. So ask.)

A canophy of voices began to chatter. Chris covered his ears, trying to block out the mental noise – his head felt like it was about to explode!

Kani's gem on her forehead began to glow, and the 'noise' cut off. Chris blinked out a few tears (that had hurt), and nodded thankfully to her. "Please… one at a time. I understand your language only through telepathy. If all of you talk, you might put me in a coma, from trying to interpret too much. I can't control it yet, and sometimes Kani's shield isn't enough."

The talk cut off, and Kani's gem lost it's glow. She stepped forward, and indicated a Dragonair (but not an elder). (I'll call each to speak. Go ahead.)

(The Elders call you a gifted one. Do you know what this truly means? )

Chris shook his head slightly. "No, not really. All I know is that it's a mark of respect. And frankly, I don't need to know anything else besides that."

(You know, it also marks you to us. Pokemon, especially dragons, will note that. We marked you in your sleep, to symbolize that.)

"What?"

(You glow, to us. Check your forearms.)

Chris glanced at his arms – his left wasn't partially covered by the poke-nav. But it was clear that the other was marked too – especially when he shifted the nav aside, so he could see the whole design. Both had intricate symbols, sigils, glyphs, and a crazy 'bracelet' design on them. It looked like they were tattooed. Each went from his wrist to about a third of his forearm. "Did you have to do that?"

(It comes with being called a gifted one. Those will fade, if you choose to become not to remain one.)

"What's with the glow? I know I'm seeing it, even if it is faint…"

(Dragon fire. To burn in that in, a mixture of outrage and hyper beam is used.)

Chris nodded. He wasn't comfortable with the marks, but he could buy some bands that covered them up. It did look very odd – they were a different color from his skin, and it seemed that they glowed softly. Otherwise, he didn't feel different…

Kani nodded to another dragon. (What location are you from, anyway? )

"Celadon City. Nasty place. It's starting to get smoggy, and polluted. I'm from the slums of it. The poor side, where there are gangs, Rockets, and all that. Rough neighborhood."

Kani indicated a Bellossom (What can you tell us about Trainers? )

"Not so good, there. The nicer trainers are becoming rare, these days. They usually go head to head with the Rockets, and end up dead. The crueler trainers manage to survive, but become ruthless. And the Rockets are the worst of the bunch. Since I worked for a poke-mart for a while, I would know. I have seen only a handful of decent ones in the year I worked. And met one on the road... well, she's ok."

Kani cut in (She's actually quite kind to her pokemon. She can't understand them, but all of them respect her)

The Bellossom seemed to mull it over, and slowly moved over to converse with several other grass types.

Another grass type spoke up before Kani made a move. (What about human greed? Do they seek the legends? )

"Greed? Oh yes, a lot of people that I knew were greedy. They were always after something. But the legendary pokemon… not many people believe in them. Mewtwo, yes – though I doubt that Mewtwo is a true legend. That one has caused quite a stir, when it destroyed the Game Center, and then Viridian Gym. But about capturing it… not many. Everyone's afraid – the few crazy enough to try to capture it have ended up dead."

(Chris, Mewtwo isn't a true legendary pokemon. It's a bastard creation. Created from Mew's cells. I doubt that it can ever become peaceful – it was made for battle.)

Chris shuddered. "I'm not sure. If it could channel it's energy into more constructive means… I mean, what about some other legends? I've heard stories about how the three legendary birds feuded regularly."

(That was then. Now, they don't usually have the energy to spare. They can't lord it over us, they take care of their areas.)

Chris nodded. "That's my point."

Several others cut in (But that's the problem. It takes Lugia and sometimes other legendaries to stop them from fighting. Mewtwo… if our lords had enough time, they could control it. But it would take either a great deal of time, or ALL of them to completely subdue it. And even then… even Ho-oh and Celebi don't have the power to purify that one's heart, and heal it. It's too badly scarred by human hands. It would need a counter-example…)

Chris flinched, as he connected the dots. "Oh, crap. I hope that isn't me…"

(We don't know what the legends plan.)

"Well, that's not so good news for me. Just how many 'gifted ones' are in the world, out of curiosity?"

(There are some in a place called Hoenn. Most other places are falling under darkness. We don't know for sure, but you could very well be one of the last ones, from what you say.)

Chris exchanged a glance with Kani. Neither liked that news. "I hope that doesn't make me a beacon to pokemon who are evil…"

An elder bowed her head, looking slightly apologetic. (They very well might attempt to kill you, in resentment for what you symbolize. Every pokemon is born good. But under an evil trainer, can become evil. You, being marked as a 'pure human' might be cut down in resentment – you have everything that they once had, and you're even a human – no human should have such a claim. But you will also be treated with respect, and not fear, from wild pokemon who are not evil. That is what you wanted, yes? )

Chris nodded. "I'll take the risk."

Kani indicated a Pidgey. (I'm curious… where do you intend to go? )

Chris sighed. "I know I'm going to Cerulean. I have a friend there, and I don't have the supplies to go anywhere else. After I re-stock, I was hoping to go to Saffron."

(Hmm... that might help. But you would have to hide your gift, you know.)

Chris nodded. "No big deal. We've managed well enough – Kani pretends to translate for me. Even when I slip up, most people just comment that Kani works fast. Anyone have an idea of where to go to after that? I can't stay in that city forever. And I'd be out of ideas after that."

(Try to convince a flying pokemon strong enough to bear you to take you to Indigo Plateau. You should have gained enough skill to talk one of them into it. Lance the Dragon Master resides there. Rayquaza speaks to his pokemon occasionally, he might be of use. But I would also advise you to get as many gym badges as you can, without endangering yourself.)

"Why?"

(Each slightly powers up your pokemon team.)

(Chris, though that might draw attention, I say do it.)

"Huh?"

(If we get stronger, we might be able to take some of the gangs back at home. Clean up the streets…)

"Or even… I get the picture."

The questioning continued well onward, into the night. Some left earlier (to hunt, though anyone who was just leaving the meeting was granted immunity until they arrived in their home range), and others stayed until nearly sunrise.