Part 1: Blue Harvest

Chapter 1

Felix lay on his bed looking at the ceiling. The light was on and the fan was spinning, thanks to his trusty Magnemite. Since the Power Plant shut down a few years ago, people had been relying on electric Pokemon to power their homes and businesses. He felt so lucky to have been given his Magnemite from a dear friend. Not from that insufferable scumbag, Zane, but from his older sister, Daisy.

"Did you hear? My grandpa is giving me a new Pokemon!" Zane tells a crowd of classmates. "He said he has a rare Pokemon, waiting just for me!"

"Wow, that's so cool Zane!"

"Will you show it to me when you get it?"

"As soon as you get it, let's battle!"

"I think I have a few Pokedollars to wager…"

Felix tries to pass by inconspicuously, with the brim of his hat over his eyes, but…

"Hey Felix! Where's your Pokemon?" Zane scoffs.

"..."

"Good ole Felix, always riding my coattails…when are you going to stop betting on my matches to feed your mommy, and start winning your own? Oh yeah, you would need a Pokemon first!" Everyone in the corridor erupts in laughter.

"..."

"What's the matter Felix? Aren't you going to defend yourself?" Zane pulls a Pokeball from his belt. He enlarges it and throws it down by his feet. A Spearow pops out, screeching loudly.

"That's enough, Zane."

"Aw sis, we were just messing around…"

The bell rings.

"Everyone get to class! I don't want to see any of you tardy!" commands Daisy to the students in the hall. Felix begins to walk away, when… "Felix, wait!"

Daisy jogs over to him. "I'm sorry about my brother. I don't know what's gotten over him. You guys used to be such great friends."

"Used to be…"

*Later that day*

The doorbell rings.

"Felix, it's for you!" calls his mother.

Felix slumps downstairs. He looks up and sees Daisy standing just inside the doorway. "I've got a surprise for you!" Daisy says as Felix reaches the bottom of the stairs. She

reaches out and hands him a Pokeball. "Go on, open it!"

Felix tosses the Pokeball in excitement as a Magnemite emerges from it. "Thank you so

much, Daisy!"

"I figured you could use it. I asked Grandpa if I could check on the Magnemite

powering the lab and he said yes. I don't think he knew I asked so that I could give one to you. Don't worry, we still have a few left."

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I love it!" Felix exclaims.

"Now you can show Zane what a real Pokemon trainer looks like!"

"Let's go!" cries Felix, beckoning Daisy and Magnemite to follow him as he grabs his

hat. Today his fortunes were going to change.

"Spearow, finish him with a Peck attack!" Zane could be heard over a cheering crowd of children. The cry of Spearow could be heard, followed by the cry of a fainting Rattata. Zane chuckles to himself and asks out to the crowd, "Who else wants to lose their money to me?"

Felix pushes his way through the circle surrounding his former friend and calls out, "I challenge you, Zane!"

Zane looks up and smirks. "You and what Pokemon?" he laughs as he pockets the money he won.

"This one!" Felix exclaims as he steps aside, making Magnemite visible behind him.

"Pfft. Like I'm taking that bet. Flying types don't match up well to electric types. One shock and I'm down, taking no skill on your part," says Zane with his nose in the air.

"What's the matter, Zane? Scared?" challenges Felix.

"Forget it!"

"I thought you were out here taking people's money? I thought I heard you talking about how if Pallet had a gym, you would no doubt be the Gym Leader. But if you can't even beat me…" shrugs Felix.

Upon hearing this, the kids in the circle let out a loud OOOHHH! They begin chanting "TAKE HIM ON! TAKE HIM ON! TAKE HIM ON!"

"Alright. You're on. I can't wait to see your face after you lose to someone with a type disadvantage," says Zane, his lip curling. "Just let me heal up real quick." He gives his Spearow a Potion.

A knot begins to grow in Felix's stomach. He had never been in a Pokemon battle before. What if he loses? Regardless, this is his chance to see if Pokemon battling is even an option to help support his mother.

"I have 50 Pokedollars. It's everything I have. I'm betting it all." By all, he not only means his money, but his reputation too.

"You're on," replies Zane. "Go Spearow!"

"Magnemite, I choose you!"

"Spearow, Growl!"

Spearow lets out a cry that causes Magnemite to look discouraged.

"Magnemite, use Thu-" Felix pauses. He realizes Magnemite doesn't know any electric moves. His stomach is in his throat now. Now what is he going to do? He bet everything on this match!

"Magnemite, use Tackle!" Magnemite is reluctant, but lunges toward Spearow. Spearow winces, but takes the hit well.

"Oho! This match is already over!" laughs Zane. "Growl, Spearow!" Spearow lets out another cry and Magnemite wants no more of it. Magnemite looks over at Felix, appearing to wish to return to its Pokeball. Felix ignores it. He has to win at all costs, regardless of how his Pokemon is feeling.

"Magnemite, Tackle!" Magnemite again lunges toward Spearow, even wimpier than before. Spearow seems hardly phased.

"I've got this in the bag! Spearow, Peck!" Spearow pecks Magnemite's hard exterior. The damage is minimal, but Magnemite is clearly disappointed with itself.

The pattern continues for the next few minutes. Spearow pecks Magnemite hard, while Magnemite half heartedly tackles Spearow, missing a few times in the process.

"Alright, Spearow! One more Peck should finish him!" Spearow speeds toward Magnemite and hits it hard with its beak, dealing critical damage. Magnemite falls to the ground, unconscious. The small crowd erupts in cheers.

"Wow, that was amazing!"

"You pulled it off!"

"You really are the best, Zane!"

Felix pulls his hat over his eyes. He looks down at his fallen Pokemon. A tear falls from his face and dampens the earth. He calls Magnemite back to its Pokeball.

"Felix, I'm so sorry," says Daisy as the circle closes in around Zane, giving him high-fives and pats on the back.

"It's not your fault," replies Felix, turning around, walking away with his hands in his pockets.

"Where do you think you're going?" Zane sneers. "Time to pay up!"

"Oh Zane, you don't need the money! Grandpa takes good care of us! Felix needs it more than you do!" pleads Daisy.

"No. A bet is a bet," says Felix. He turns around and reaches into his pockets. As he reaches to give Zane the money, Zane snatches it out of his hands.

"Remember this face! You'll see it everywhere once I beat the Elite Four and become the Pokemon League Champion. I think you should stick to what you're good at and stay in school." Zane turns his back to Felix and waves his hand in one motion. "Smell ya later!"

With that, Zane walks away with the crowd close behind him.

That was 6 months ago. Between then and now, Felix and Magnemite had built a strong friendship. Afterall, Magnemite was the only friend Felix had now. Felix promised Magnemite he would never ask it to fight his battles ever again. He even offered to give it back to Daisy so that it could go back to working with its own kind, but Magnemite refused to go back into its Pokeball. From what Felix could tell, Magnemite understood his situation and took pity on him. It didn't want to abandon Felix at such a low point in his life. It had seen the way his classmates tormented him. It knew Felix still needed him. Magnemite appreciated Felix's sincerity, so it happily agreed to provide power to Felix's house, as long as it never had to battle another Pokemon again.

The two of them were inseparable after that. During the day, while Felix's mom was at work, Magnemite would keep Felix company at school. In the evenings, Felix would read books to Magnemite while it provided power to his home. It had been awhile since Felix had been able to trust anybody. His father not making it back from the war after he had promised he would return and his best friend Zane suddenly turning on him made it hard for Felix to open up to anybody. He told Magnemite everything now and Magnemite would go above and beyond his duties as a comfort Pokemon. The two of them had built an unbreakable bond of trust.