"Uhh…Boss?"
"I'm going through a midlife crisis here. Give me a moment."
Midlife crisis? Our protagonist had a cloud of depression on top of him. What could be the reason for such a display?
Easy! You all know how the map of the Kanto Region is, correct? And how much do we all spend days reaching a town in the games? How do we all know that's not easy, as we have seen the anime on how Ash needed to camp out and needed days to reach a town?
Well, here is the dumb realization…Some buses can take you to towns in minutes.
…
…
…
Midlife crisis, my ass! He just mixes up clarification on two versions of the same place without common logic!
('Go and suck an entire bag of radish and choke on it, bitch!') Ed swore at me. (AN: I shall remember that.) He took a deep breath to regain some control of his depression. "All right…I'm okay now."
"Are you?" Pikachu sweatdrop.
Ed simply gives him a thumbs up. He looked out of the bus's window, seeing a road of green hills, trees, and a blue sky covered in clouds. It has been an hour since he had taken the bus to Vermillion City, home to the Electrical General Gym Leader and the reported sight of this mysterious creature.
So the plan is obvious; first, investigate this rumor and then, if things go okay, get a fifth partner for his team. Once that business is over, he will go train before facing the Gym.
Solid strategic plan, right?
Ed once again turned his attention to his phone, which was sporting the picture of the mysterious orange blur heading to a bush. ('This might be a great tracking challenge.') He thought as smiled at Ekans' discovery. ('That girl's eyes are way sharper than I thought.')
"Next Stop, Vermillion City."
The voice com made Ed perk as he and Pikachu looked out the window, and began to see the town. A big city with buildings, a view of many electrical windmills, and a view of the port and ocean. "Wow…" Pikachu was awed while staring at the city.
"Glad you enjoy it," Ed said as he stood up and stretched his arms, the ride was one hour after all. "Once we end our investigation, we are preparing before the Gym. They have powerful electrical Pokemons, a perfect place to improve your electricity." He taps his cheek, "Try sensing it."
Pikachu closed his eyes and began to concentrate. His red cheeks began to spark a little before he widened his eyes. "Woah! So much electricity!"
"Good." Ed grabs his bag and puts it on. "Get used to it, 'cause we might need it."
--
( Later, Pokemon Center, outside the building)
"Alright. Here's the thing." Ed said as he placed a map on the ground while eating a Hot Yamper (Basically a Hotdog) while his team looked at the map of Vermillion City, markings of red around the forest. "It seems that our mysterious friend has been spotted around several places." He explained as he remembered talking to many trainers that had come for that opportunity to catch this Pokemon and the rumors that flew around. "Given the points markers, it seems that they have seen it near the beach, in the park, and at night near the entrance of the forest, the reason for the photo." He grabbed a marker and circled the areas. "Since these three are where it's being spotted the most, we will start on them to look for clues."
"What are we looking for exactly?" Pikachu asked.
"Truthfully speaking? Anything out of the ordinary." Ed confessed. "We are going full blind here. There are many places to look and so little to figure out something that can be an actual connection to it."
"What about what I s~aid?" Ekans asked.
"Helpful, but we need to find a piece of evidence or understand the place," Ed said as he grabbed the map and folded it away. "Alright gang, let's begin with the forest, that's where the photo was taken." He received nods from his team as Pikachu jumped on his shoulder, Sakura hopped onto his arms, and both Natsu and Ekans were returned to the poke balls.
Their investigation began around the forest near the town. Ed and the rest were coming up the stairs and saw a few trainers there. "Oh. Seems like we aren't the only ones who thought about it."
"Hey there!" Ed noticed someone coming close to him, a young man with usual casual clothing and a beanie hat that hides his hair and half of his eyes. "Came to try and find our mysterious Pokemon?"
"Something like that." Ed nodded. "Got curious about it and wanted to see if we could figure it out."
"Welp! Go ahead and try your best." The trainer said as he showed Ed a pin that had Pokeballs in an Olympic band form. "I'm part of the Pokemon League Association. My name's Tommy." He introduced himself.
"Name's Edgard, but friends call me Ed," Ed replied while his team cried out. "So, why is the League on this?"
Tommy scratched the back of his beanie. "Funny thing. Ever since the news of that creature happened, we have had quite the crowd as you can see." He motioned the trainers around. "Now, it's nothing new this development, but we had a few problems with them. We got into several fights the few days with reasons out of control, so the police asked for the league to send some extra help."
"Hmm, I see." Ed hummed. "I was wondering if the League was only for the Elite 4 and Gyms." He looked at Tommy, "I guess that you are part of a backup force if the police get overwhelmed?"
"Ehe! Something like that." Tommy chuckled before his chest rose in pride. "I don't want to brag, but I did manage to reach the finals of the Pokemon League."
"Oh really?" Ed asked in interest, "You must be really strong then."
"Yep," Tommy said as he looked at the sky, like one of those memory line flashbacks. "It took me almost an entire year to beat all the Gym Leaders, and when the League started, I fought tooth and nail. My pokemon fought with everything they could and we reached the finals…only to lose." He let a sigh of depression out. "It was sad, you know. To reach just the last part of the top, only to stumble down back to the beginning."
"I hear ya'." Ed nodded. "I have worked my butt to reach the top several times, and have been thrown back down more than I could count."
"I know!" Tommy exclaimed while biting on his shirt and pulling it in frustration. "It's been so unfair!" He let go of his shirt, napping back in place. "But that's okay! After my loss, I was scouted by the League to work for them. Since I had nothing else to do, I joined. I can go and help others, travel around the region, and as a plus, get paid."
"Hmm. Sounds like you have a good situation." Ed said before looking around the place, "Anyways, I want to look around for clues about the mysterious creature. Any information?"
"Hmm." Tommy scratches his chin. "Well, I'm mostly asked to simply keep an eye that there's no trouble, but I have heard something weird." He pointed at the part of the forest, "You see, there's a generator not too far from here. It's part of the electrical company that runs all of Vermillion. It had previously been causing some strange sounds, like if electricity was being poured in."
Ed perks at that. "You don't say?" He hummed as his interest rose as he asked. "And has it been investigated?"
"Yep. The engineers had a quick check-up. They found nothing wrong. No loose cables. No leaks. Not even power failure." Tommy explained. "They triple-checked everything, but nothing came out wrong. Still, it seems that the generator keeps doing it from time to time."
Before Ed could ask more, Pikachu's cheeks suddenly started to spark. "Oh wow! I feel something huge!" As on cue-
*BROOOOOVMMMM!*
A high pitch sound echoed through the forest, making everyone jump a little at the sound as they covered their ears. "That's it! That's the sound!" Tommy screeched out, covering his ears.
Nodding to himself, Ed turned to Pikachu, "Buddy! Go to the gen! Use Quick Attack!" Nodding, Pikachu's body shines in white and shoots forward, going to where the sound was coming from. "Sakura! Hold on tight!" He commanded as the fairy-type Pokemon held tight to his arms. Ed quickly catches up to them before looking at Tommy. "Thanks for the info!"
"No problem!" Tommy waved as he dropped down. "Just shut the thing up if you can!"
--
"Come on! Come on!" Pikachu mumbled to himself as he used all his strength to speed up through the forest. His white trail was left behind while he dodged anything in his way.
He has to reach the sound, he has to!
Ever since his defeat over lack of speed in that tournament, his trainer had put him and the others in a lot of training. And he must say; it surprisingly works. Each step from his feet making contact with the dirt was fast, his lungs felt so light with the rhythm of his breathing. In short, he was faster than before.
Although, he felt that he wasn't faster than a particular cat.
('Ugh! Why did I remember that?') Pikachu shuddered at the predator glint of that cat, licking her lips.
*BROOOOOVMMMM!*
His thought broke when the sound came again. His cheeks were going crazy with statics. ('Getting close') He speeds up, already seeing something far ahead.
Jumping over a bush, Pikachu reached a clearing with a high-fenced building. He came to a halt to not crash into the fence and looked through. Right there next to the building was a generator, bursting out electricity. Pikachu's cheeks spark more, intensifying as they suddenly are pulled into the generator along with the electricity, which made a jolt. That causes the generator to stop making a sound and the sparks disappear.
Pikachu senses his electricity going low. Narrowing his eyes, he focused on the back of the generator…where he noticed something peeking to the side. ('Aha! So Boss was right!') Pikachu thought while he had a flashback.
"Alright. Listen up, buddy. This might be a stretch, but it is possible that our mysterious creature is an Electric-Type. You can sense electricity, so the moment you feel something, run after it and don't lose its sight."
('I should keep an eye and see what they are.') Pikachu thought as he paced around the fence. ('If I try to do anything, I might get attacked, or they'll escape.') His options could be better. ('My only choice is keep an eye on it so that Boss can arrive-')
SHOOOM!*
"Pika!" Pikachu yelped as he was suddenly hit by a thunder attack. "What!? Where?!" He moved his eyes around quickly to see anything but saw nothing. The attack finished as he slumped on the ground, his body momentarily stopping. "Ugh!"
It was enough time for him to see movement on the generator. He couldn't tell, but he figured that whatever was behind it was long gone.
"D-Damn…!" Pikachu grunts as he struggles to stand up.
"Pikachu!" At that moment, Ed burst through the bushes, looking around to find him. Sakura quickly pointed at the side in urgency, making Ed snap his head and quickly head there. "Buddy! Are you okay!?"
"Y-Yeah…" Pikachu grunted.
"Sakura! Heal Pulse!" Ed quickly commanded as Sakura jumped off and landed next to Pikachu, her body glowing as she stretched her arms forward, making Pikachu glow and heal his wounds.
"Thanks." Pikachu thanked the young fairy.
"No problem, Leader!" Sakura said.
"Feeling better?" Ed asked as he received a nod from his partner. "Alright. Tell me what happened."
"I…I reached the place and stopped at the fences. There was a lot of electricity going wild from that generator." Pikachu explained as he motioned to the generator, which returned to work normally. "I noticed movement behind it and kept an eye on it until you arrived. But suddenly, I was hit by an attack. It stung me for a moment, but it was enough for it to escape."
"Hmmm. I see." Ed hummed as he brought his phone to his document app to write. "Seems that you were attacked out of the blue. Seeing that you were looking forward, you were either attacked from above or behind…Anything else?"
Pikachu flops his ears down. "Sorry. I couldn't see much because the lightning shadowed it. Even worse when I got hit. I couldn't see them leave at all."
"That's alright." Ed kneels and pat his head. "You probably did far more than anyone at the moment." That made Pikachu smile a bit.
He looked at the generator before turning to the fence, seeing a door not too far, with no lock or chain on it. "No forcing the entrance…" He took out his two poke-balls. "Natsu. Ekans." He summoned his friends. "Go to both sides of the fences and search for anything."
"Got it!" Natsu nodded before running to the left.
"As~ you wis~h." Ekans bow before heading to the right.
Ed sat down and began to write on his phone. "Okay. Seems that I was right about it possibly being an electric-type." He said as he zoomed in to a chart with electric-type Pokemon. "This helps us a bit."
"What do you mean?" Pikachu and Sakura asked.
"Look at the generator." Ed pointed at the electric machinery. "Given its size, I don't think a Raichu or an Electabuzz could be our target. They are too big to hide, and not very fast to escape once they attack you." He looked at Pikachu, "You said you couldn't see them, meaning it has to be somewhere your size. Dropping it slightly down to a few."
"Oh really?" Pikachu's ears stood up.
"Yep." Ed nodded before seeing both Natsu and Ekans coming back. "Now let's see what they have to say."
…
…
…
A few minutes later, we see Ed entering the resident's park, Sakura in his head and Pikachu returning to his Pokeball to rest. Sure enough, he saw multiple trainers doing their investigations, along with people going their merry ways with their Pokémons.
"Okay." Ed began looking around, Sakura hopping on top of his head and looking around as well. "Considering what Tommy said, there should be another member of the League around."
"Over there!" Sakura pointed very closely by, someone who was wearing the League badge.
"Good going, girl." Ed congratulated the Pokemon, who felt happy about it. "Now let's go ask." He said while walking to the trainer.
Meanwhile, not too far from Ed's position, an interesting individual was present.
"Aha! I got it!" Sitting on a bench was a dark-skinned boy, ten years old, with messy vulcan hair with two red highlights, and blue eyes. His outfit consists of a red and gray short-sleeved hoodie with a Poké Ball design, black sweatpants, red socks, and a pair of gray and black shoes. He was messing with a computer while grinning. "The electricity around the park is slightly more stable than normal. Meaning that it's being used for something! Something huge! Haha! That's just great! Just one step close to uncover the mystery, right in the palm of my hand-"
"Goh."
Goh yelped in surprise, so much he jumped into the air and somehow went over the bench and into the ground. He popped his head from behind it and looked around in panic and confusion. "Who? What?"
"Behind you." He turned around and saw a young slender fair-skinned girl with green eyes. She had dark brown/pinkish hair. She was wearing a baggy white dress with blue anchors on the sides, a blue-and-white collar around her shoulders, a yellow ribbon around her neck, and a pair of mid-knee dark gray socks on her feet, which had white lines on the top of them, and a pair of short white boots that match her dress. She was currently giving the boy a deadpan expression.
"Ah, Chloe!" Got spoken to in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
"Good to see you too." Chloe blankly replied with a sigh as she held forward some small bag. "Here. You forgot your lunch…again."
"Ah, thanks." Goh thanked her as he took the bag off her hands. "Sorry for this, I know you don't like doing it."
"Then have some self perseverance around you for once." Chole blankly replied. "I know you are a guy of science and found this…Pokemon hunting as a good project, but would it hurt for you to keep yourself alive? I feel like a nanny."
"Hehehe! Yeah, sorry about that. But have no fear!" Goh went back to his device and showed it to her. "I'm close to figuring it out! See these charts? They are the electricity around the generators where the creature was spotted! See how the static goes down by a large margin before it goes back to normal! That means that whatever it is, might be using the energy for something!"
"Uhu." Chloe nodded, paying attention but finding little interest in what he was saying.
"Don't you see! There's no Pokemon in Kanto that can do something like this!" Goh explained, his eyes glowing like stars. "This might be the discovery of a new Pokemon! And I am destined to find it! I can feel it!"
"Nice that you still think about the 'destiny in your palm' thing, but how exactly do you plan on doing the catch?" Chloe asked. "You don't have a Pokemon with you yet."
That's right. Goh doesn't have a Pokémon, which is sad and impressive because he is currently 15 years old. According to the law, trainers before thirteen can have one Pokémon with them, at least. So why is this young man without one?
"Heh! Come on, Chloe." Goh chuckled while cleaning his nose. "I have told you already; my first partner is going to be Mew!" He proclaimed with pride.
Crack!
….
….
….
….
(AU: Ahem! I apologize for that. Let us proceed.)
Chloe applies her hand to her forehead while letting out a breath. "Again. How do you plan to do that? You aren't planning to just let luck do its job, right?"
"Pffft! Luck is an accident!" Goh waves off. "I'm still planning on how, but I will be the one to catch him first! I know I will because-"
"You have destiny in the palm of your hands, yada, yada, yada." Chloe blankly waves him off. "I know I can't change your mind, nor will I try to. Just stop ignoring your self-care." She then pointed at him in a motherly way. "And please go back to the lab before midnight. My dad was worried sick last time you went out and didn't come after 4 AM."
"Don't worry about it!" Goh smirked while crossing his arms. "This discovery won't take me long! I'm heading to where the pokemon will appear in about forty minutes!" He said as he looked at his watch, his eyes widening in horror. "Shoot! I only have thirty minutes now!" He quickly grabbed his stuff and shoved it inside a backpack. "Thanks for the food, Chloe! See you later!" Before the girl could even think, Goh had dashed away.
"Augh…this stubborn moron is going to end up dead one day." Chloe sighs heavily and her shoulders drop. She still wonders how he is still alive…
Don't get her wrong! She, in no way, wants Goh to get hurt or, worst, dead. Is just that she even finds it hard to handle him. Sure, he is a genius when it comes to Pokemon, but his stubborn ego has made him…slightly unbearable.
The reason why he is introverted and has no friends, and the fact that he ignored coming to school to spend time researching Pokemon, especially Mew.
('Gosh, Goh…I just hope you get the chance to make a friend.') Chloe thought as she left. Begging the Gods above for her childhood friend to have a social life…
…
..
.
"Well, that's surprising." Ed said. Having his hand under his chin after everything he had found. "At first, this was because of interest. But now? I have my full attention."
"Shall we go to the next location?" Sakura asks out.
"Let's." Ed said as he took his phone out. "Still, at least I got evidence that I believe is enough to convince me to know who is the one running around."
Later on, Ed reached the beach where the claimed spotting happened. As usual, a few trainers were looking around. He and Sakura got a splendid view of the beach, making the young fairy-type marvel in amazement at it. "Beautiful view…You know what? After this fiasco happens, how about a beach day for the team?" He asked.
"We agreed!" All four members, including the three inside their poke-balls, agreed.
"Good!" Ed took out his Pokeball and summoned Pikachu, his body materializing in front of him. "Alright. Start using your sense to locate the closest generator. They should be working by now."
"Right!" Pikachu closed his eyes and began to spark electricity, his tail standing up. "...This way!" He began to walk, leading Ed to the walk side of the beach, and heading to the nearby forest.
"Alright. Listen up." Ed began to speak, having all his team listening. "Is obvious that our target is stealthy. It somehow managed to attack Pikachu while he had his guard up."
"What do you suggest?" Ed heard Natsu ask.
"How are things going? We might have to play the waiting game." Ed said. "It seems that it's going for these generators rather than others…Which begs my question; why?"
"Why is it only going to those three only?" Ekans finished the entire question.
"I mean, even if the one I suspect is doing this, why only go to three places constantly?" Ed pointed out. "According to what we gather, there are at least ten generators in Vermillion. You would think it would go to those as well."
"Perhaps it was easier to find these three?" Natsu suggested.
"A good theory, but that brings my 'why' only these three?" Ed repeated.
"AAAAAAAAH!"
A scream of panic made Ed stop and snap his head to the side in concern, Sakura holding tight to his head while Pikachu quickly positioned himself to battle. It wasn't long before a figure jumped out of the forest, running away in panic while being followed by something. "I'M SORRY! STOP ATTACKING ME!" The person yelled out.
"You heard that, buddy?" Pikachu could hear a heroic trumpet sounding off from Ed's voice. "That's the sound of trouble! Let's go!" With a nod, both of them ran.
--
Goh ran. He ran because his life depended on it. ('Dammit! Why did this happen now?! Just when I'm close to solve this mystery!') He cursed himself for failing to be careful.
"Cuoooow!" The growl from its attacker made him put more effort into his legs.
The attacker was a big bird, size between 3-4 feet tall, covered in brown feathers, cream-colored face, and underside belly. A pinkish-crest in the form of a beautiful long mane. Its tail had alternatives of red and yellow feathers with ragged tips. Its beak and legs were pink, with powerful sharp talons.
"How did I get myself tangled with a Pidgeotto this big!?" Goh screamed as he began to jump forward as Pidgeotto's talons tried to catch him, a sharpening sound of claws increasing his desire to live.
I mean, perhaps it was slightly his fault because he accidentally scared the bird when it was collecting food, causing it to let go of the berries that got smashed into mush, but how was he supposed to know that he was there? Doesn't matter anymore! For now, he needs to run away as fast as possible. With some luck, the bird will get tired! After all, it was searching for food, and given its size, its strength is not 100 percent! Such is the power of his deduction skills!
"Ottooooooooo!"
The scream of a very angry bird told Goh that for that to happen, he needs to run faster! Something he is horrible at! Such is the power of reality!
"Aaaaah!" Goh continued to scream while he tried to form a plan or at least some blessing for salvation…Yeah, right! Like that would ever-
"Pikachu! Thundershock!"
It seems that Arceus above has heard his plea as a lightning bolt went right in front of Pidgeotto's path, making the bird stop in fear at its weakness, flapping back not to be electrocuted.
Goh looks behind in surprise at what happened, soon seeing a trainer coming from the side and standing in front of him with Pikachu with a hat on its head to his side and a Cleffa holding on to his head.
"Alright! Alright! What is going on here!?" Ed shouted as he smiled at the glaring Pidgeotto, who flapped its wing menacingly. "And before you try attacking me out of anger, let me introduce my partner." He elegantly pointed at Pikachu, who began to spark electricity from his cheeks. "And my little sweet girl who can mimic what my partner will do if you don't calm down." Cleffa glared…which was a cute pout. "So my best advice? Take a deep breath…and speak."
Goh was incredulous at what he was seeing. A human telling an angry Pokemon way bigger than normal to calm down. More shockingly when he saw the bird land on the ground and began to coo out a lot, making moves with its wings. Ed nodded at everything it was saying for about two minutes before he looked at his Pikachu, who said 'Pika' only four times.
"I see…Well, can you please forgive him?" He said while pointing his thumb at Goh, "It's frustrating that you lost your food, trust me I have gone multiple times when my mother forgets mine, but I do believe that this young man wasn't trying to inconvenience you." He looked at Goh, who flinched in surprise at the stare he was giving him…as if he wanted him to say something-
"Y-Yes! I-I wasn't trying to surprise you! I was just making my way to a place!" Goh replied before doing the dogeza. "I'm truly sorry for the inconvenience!"
"See?" Ed looked at Pidgeotto. "He has apologized for his actions. I do believe a Pokemon with high intelligence like you can find it in its heart to accept this apology." The bird chirped in annoyance, taking into consideration his words. "And to make it up," Ed pulled out from his bag two Citrus Berries, which made the wild Pokemon perk in joy. "You may have these two Citrus Berries that I have. What do you say?" Without hesitation, it nodded before flapping its wings and grabbing them with its talons.
"Otto!" It chirps before flying away.
Seeing it disappear, Goh sighs in relief, having escaped injury for now.
"You okay…Goh?" The dark-skin boy looks a the trainer.
"Huh…Y-Yeah. I'm okay?" Go replied before asking, "B-But how did you know my name? H-Have we met?"
"Not officially nor directly," Ed said as he extended his hand to him. "Besides, how can I forget that little kid that took over Professor Samuel Oak's field trip right under his nose all those years ago?" That made Goh blush as he accepted his hand.
"O-Oh. You were part of the group?"
"Let's just say I witnessed that and leave it there," Ed said before introducing himself. "Anyways, my name's Edgard Martinez, but friends called me Ed." He felt Pikachu jump on his shoulder while Sakura tapped his head. "And these two are my partners, Pikachu and Sakura-"
"Oh wow!" Goh got close, making Ed reel back while Sakura quickly panicked not to fall off while sweating at the intense closeness of the boy. "A Cleffa! Those are rare to see and catch! How did you manage to catch one?!"
Ed replied by pressing his finger on his forehead and pushing him back. "First off; personal space please. Second, I got her in Moon Mountain after a fiasco."
"Lucky!" Goh said. "They are impossible to find! Almost like-" his eyes widened suddenly, "Oh shoot! I almost forgot!" He quickly checked his phone, "I need to leave! I might stIll catch it in time! Thanks for the help! Later!" Goh shook Ed's hand rapidly before running away in seconds.
…
..
.
Minutes later, Goh reached the small electric building located in the forest near the ocean. "Oh! Seems that I made it in time!" He said as he quickly took out his electronic device, "Seems that electricity here is still stable. I have to prepare fast!"
"For what?"
"Well, duh! To see the mysterious Pokemon!" Goh replied smugly. "I have figured out that it likes to come to three places constantly! This is one!"
"Oh, so you figure out that it will come back again."
"That's correct!"
"And you have a plan to catch it, I presume?"
"That is also-t!"
…
…
…
"...Huh?" Goh finally realized that someone else was with him. He snaps his head behind so fast, one would think he broke his neck. "GAAAAH!" He yelled out in surprise at seeing Ed standing behind him. "What are you doing here?!"
"Why wouldn't I?" Ed replied with raised eyebrows. "This is my destination."
"Desti-You are here for the Pokémon too?" Goh asked.
"What else would I be deep here?" Ed said as Pikachu began to work and Cleffa jumped off his head, doing a triple spin and landing perfectly. "I figure that whoever is doing all this goes for three generators constantly. This one being my second one."
"Oh…wow." Goh was honestly shocked. "I…must admit, I didn't expect anyone to see that pattern."
"Well, lucky me; I'm not just anyone." Ed replied as he looked at Goh. "So? Do you have any plan on catching this perpetrator?"
Goh narrows his eyes. "...Why do you ask?"
"Because I have mine in the process." Ed felt amused at Goh's suspicion of him. "Also, whatever is stealing electricity, requires teamwork to catch it." Ed replied.
That's where the dark-skin boy flinches a little. Having exactly zero experience in having friends.
"Ah. I see what's going on here." Ed nodded as he watched Goh feel uncomfortable. "Let me guess; smartest in the class, high IQ, firm believer that destiny can be held by your hands, the lone wolf that nobody will ever understand." He could feel the kids' look of shock. "Lack of social school. Finding learning out in the field far better than class. Trouble expressing feelings. Trust issues in the past with your first ever friend."
"H-How do you-" Goh tried to speak.
"You're not the only one with that mindset, and I can promise you my entire life savings, you will not be the last one." Ed rolled his eyes before saying one last thing. "Bet you haven't gotten your pokemon yet."
…
…
…
"...See? Not the first one." Ed sighs. "Now, I'm not going to say anything, and let us focus on trying to see who our mysterious friend is, shall we?"
"R-Right." Goh stuttered. Never in his life has he been read so easily.
"Names Edgard Martinez, but everyone calls me Ed." He said as he pointed at his friends, "And those guys are part of my team, Pikachu is my first partner, Sakura is my latest."
"Oh…That means you have only four." Goh was happy to change the subject. "Did you start your journey?"
"Why yes. I started my journey recently, and already went to Pewter City and Cerulean City." Ed shows off his badges on his jacket.
"Cool." Goh nodded…as he began to get awkward already.
"Listen. You don't need to force a conversation with me if you don't want to." Ed said. "I get it. Is hard to talk with others. I was in your shoes."
"Really?" That caught Goh's attention.
"Yep. Not many know, but I was born with a symptom called Asperger Syndrome." Ed said.
"Asperger…"
"Syndrome?" Pikachu and Sakura asked in confusion.
"Ah! I heard about that!" Goh perk up. "Is a symptom that some people have since birth! It's a developmental disorder that makes people have gifted skills in certain departments, but lack proper communication skills with other people!"
Ed nodded once again. "Right you are. I did, in fact, have trouble holding a conversation with others. I still do."
"B-But you're talking like anyone would!" Goh said, trying to understand the logic. "How did you-"
"I suck it and give it a shot."
"...Huh?"
Ed looks up into the sky, thinking hard about the past. "Is true that I gain an opportunity to have a skill enchanted…but I realized that it would be useless if I can't even have a conversation with another being that it wasn't my family." He looked at Goh once again, "If I wanted to grow up, be someone I can be proud of, I needed to break that anxiety of talking with others. So, I slapped myself hard, and told myself to stop this nonsense and start putting on weight." He walked up to him and placed a hand on his left shoulder, "So, this problem, this discomfort/belief that nobody will understand you; I know what you are going through. You can take your time, you're still young. But one day, you need to drop the excuses, and face the problem head on. After all, how can you hold destiny with your hand, if something like doubt in your life stops you so easily?"
…
…
…
Goh just…stood there. Staring at him blankly, his thoughts were processed by Ed's words.
However, whatever, if he did, wanted to think or say, stop when Pikachu's cheek began to spark. "Boss! Something's coming!"
"It's coming!" Ed shouted as he and Goh quickly turned to the generator. Sure enough, a whirring sound began to play as a massive light of yellow began to form. "Hide!" All four of them went into hiding.
Goh and Ed hide behind trees, while Pikachu and Sakura hide behind a rock.
Generator began to whirl more loudly before the light began to shrink down. But instead of going out, it molded itself into a small being; a round, plasma-like ghost. It was a mass of spherical orange with a spiky antenna-like feature at the top of its head. It is enveloped in a glowing aura of cyan-bluish plasma, with lightning bolt-shaped appendages on either side of its lower body. "Bzzzt!" It said before looking around.
"Oh wow! That's it!" Goh whispers in joy and excitement, already recording with his phone. "It's tiny, orange, and looks fast! This must be the creature!"
"As I thought." Ed huffed in interest. "It's a Rotom."
Goh looks at him in shock. "That's a Rotom?! Aren't they native to the Sinnoh Region?!"
Ed nodded as he brought his dex out. " Rotom, the Plasma Pokemon. A tricky ghost that enjoys pranking a little too much. It travels through electric devices. Further information of this species is still in research."
Ignoring how the dex managed to speak enough and the Rotom never noticing, Ed looked at the ghost pokemon. "Small things transport themselves through electric devices; such as generators and cables."
"Of course! That explains why they never could find it; it always escapes through the poles around the forest!" Goh quickly checked his device to see the map of Vermilion. "There are electrical poles close by, it just zap itself into it! It also explains why the electricity has been going low every time I check; it's entering between it!"
Ed nodded once again, "Yep. But now brings a very important question; why is it here?"
"I agreed. Like I said, they are from Sinnoh. How did one get here to Kanto?" Goh began to think. "Not to sound like it can't be here, but this species is considered very rare. It would have taken a lot for one to just get itself here."
"I agreed." Ed nodded, before blinking at Goh. "Oh…I guess we don't need to whisper anymore."
"Huh?" Goh looked at him, "Why do you…" He turned around, to be face to face with the Rotom. "Ack!" He yelped as he fell back.
"Bzzzt~" Rotom sounded like giggling as it stared at Goh before it began to zigzag around.
"Hello there." Ed greeted the plasma ghost, who looked at him in confusion. "Seems that you've been going around town. Are you enjoying it so far?" He asked, earning a giggle from Rotom as it moved around, buzzing.
"He said that the town is very big but annoying." Pikachu informed, jumping on Ed's shoulder while Sakura did the same. "He doesn't have time to enjoy it properly because people are looking for him."
"Hmm. I can guess." Ed chuckled. If hundreds of random strangers were going after him in a big city, he would be annoyed as well. "Sorry about them. Your actions and species are very new to Kanto. They are literally going around like chickens losing their heads."
Rotom buzzed in giggle at the description. "Bzzzzt?"
"He asked if you are going to be one of them." Pikachu translated.
"Well, I will be honest, the thought has passed my mind." Ed confessed. "But something tells me I won't be able to."
"Bzzzzt?" Rotom blinked at him.
"You see-"
"HOOOOLD ON A MINUTE!" For those who might have slightly forgotten he was here, Goh remembered with an outburst. "I've been silent because I'm trying to process what has happened just now! So I'm going to ask the current logical question I have in mind right now!" He pointed at Ed, "You! How are you understanding the Pokemon's?!"
"Oh. That's easy. When you have a mutual connection with your friends, you get to understand what they are saying." Ed explained. ('Yeah, let's go with story for now.')
"Oh, that makes some sense." Goh casually replied before shouting. "Next question: why are you so calm about this?!"
"Why shouldn't I? Most of the Internet probably figured this out from the start." Ed replied.
"...Huh? Internet?" Question marks were appearing on Goh's head before shaking it away. "Y-You know what, I won't answer that, so moving to my final question; what do you mean you won't capture it?!"
That made Rotom squeal and hid behind Ed, more specifically, on Pikachu, who jumped a little at the contact. "Are you?" Ed asked.
"Huh?"
"Are you planning to catch him?"
"Oh. Hehehe." For some reason, Goh began to chuckle. "While this is an interesting offer, I must decline." You could see his nose stretch out. "I already have my first pokemon in mind. So there's no need to fear!"
('Right. Still with that 'wanting to catch Mew first' dream.') Ed sweat drops. "Okay. So why were you searching for it?"
"Duh! For discovery!"
"...Of course, forgive me for asking." Ed's sweat dropped harder and looked behind him. "See? He won't go after you and neither will I." Rotom peek out, "You have my most utter promise that neither of us will try to catch you. Scout's honor." Ed proceeds to do the Scout Honor pose promise.
Rotom hummed for a moment before smiling and began to zip around them both.
"Seems like we got it to trust us." Ed said.
"Awesome!" Goh said as he brought out his computer and began to do his thing. Only then, he stopped as he noticed something strange in his chart. "That's weird. I'm getting signals of electricity missing…"
Ed narrows his eyes as looks over his shoulders, seeing several lines going down by a lot. "Strange indeed." He looked at Rotom. "Are you the only one around here?"
"Bzzzzt!" Rotom nodded.
"I figured as much." Ed sighs and looks at Pikachu, who notices the stare and prepares himself. He then proceeded to take his phone out and show it to Rotom. "Does this look familiar to you in any way?"
"Bzz?" Rotom made his body a question mark as he looked at the photo. Showing no reaction.
('Curious…')
"What are you doing?" Goh looked confused.
"Is something that I just thought…but tell me, Goh. Don't you find the League's involvement in this strange?" Goh looked confused. "You said it, Rotom is a rare pokemon, but we know about it. Hard to catch, but not unknown." The dark-skinned boy was in thought at his words, ringing some truth. "Also, one of my Pokemon discovered something very peculiar." Ed proceeds to take out a printed photo from his pocket and show it to Goh. "This is the picture taken about its movement."
"Yeah?" Goh wasn't sure what he was trying to say.
"Look close. Like, really, close." Ed offered him to.
Goh narrows his eyes at the image. Nothing wrong about it… "Hang on." Goh took his computer, quickly taking a look at his own image. He began to compare both images for a second before his eyes widened, "W-What? T-There's a string attached to the figure on yours?!"
Yep! If one magnifies their vision a little, they will see some sort of string following the orange figure.
"Yours don't have it, correct?"
"Y-Yeah! Mine looks clean! But why?!"
Ed put away his photo and moved to another. "This is just a hunch, but I believe there's something big going on. Here. I was in the Park looking for the generator when I came by this."
Goh looks at it and gasps.
It was an image of the generator of the park, and there were two individuals on it. One looked like a scientist on a computer, while the other was covered in a black uniform.
Both have an "R" on their shirts.
"Team Rocket?!"
"An hypothesis I have here; either they are searching for incognito, using several trainers to find or capture Rotom." Ed suggested before narrowing his eyes. "Or they are just taking advantage of the situation."
"B-But is Team Rocket really that powerful to make something like this?" Goh asked, shaken that a region-wide criminal organization might be involved.
('If only you knew Goh.') Ed thought, knowing fully well just how political and business power is the boss. "As I said, it is a possibility. One that is for the best that we moved away from here now."
"That will be unnecessary."
Both kids turned to the side, only for a net to shoot forward, trapping them and the Pokemon in it. Rotom was suddenly shot by a powerful electrical surge, making it squeal in pain before getting dragged back.
"What the?!" Goh yelped as he tried to get out of the net.
"Thanks for the help, twerps!"
Ed, narrowing his eyes, turned his head to see the two previous TR mentions. "Team Rocket…I must say, this is not a surprise."
"Why thank you." The scientist smirks, his glasses shining as he looks at a capsule, where Rotom has been held, doing its best to get out. "And thank you for helping us get this guy. You have no idea just how hard it's been to find it."
"So Team Rocket is behind this?!" Goh asked, struggling in the net, Sakura doing her best to remove it from her as well.
"Hell if I know." The normal thug shrugged. "We simply heard a mysterious pokemon and thought it would be a good addition to us. 'Sides Trevor here is fascinated with electric Pokemon."
"Hey! I'll have you know that Electric-Type Pokemons are awesome! They are living batteries that have revolutionized our world!" Trevor, the scientist guy, said while pointing accusingly, "Besides, you are a sucker for Poison-Types, Shaun!"
"Because they are awesome, nuff said." Shaun rolled his eyes before turning to the captured boys, with a poke-ball in hand. "So yeah. Since our business is practically secret, we are going to put you both to sleep." Goh growled in anger and fear, while Ed simply rolled his eyes. "Now, Now. Is nothing personal, just business."
"Wow!" Trevor suddenly shouted, almost surprising his partner. "Look at that Pikachu! It looks so strong! And it had a cute hat!" He said before blinking several times, "Hold on…isn't that Pikachu the one that fought head-to-head with Celestia Mercury's Persian?!"
Goh stops his anger and snaps his head at Pikachu in shock. He had heard of a trainer with a Pikachu that fought on par with one of the Elite 4 Candidates. Now, he isn't much of a fighter, but even he knows that said Pikachu wears a hat.
Using his giga brain ability, Jimmy Neutron-style, his eyes almost pop out when he looks at Ed. "Y-You…are the trainers everyone's been talking about?"
Ed blankly stared for a moment before taking his glasses and putting them on.
That made Goh and the TR members gasp exaperetly. "It's you!!!!"
('Oh my God. Is true. People aren't recognizing me without the glasses.') Ed was not impressed.
"Wow! We hit the jackpot!" Shaun suddenly smirks greedily. "We captured a famous guy! If we take his Pokemons back to base, will get a promotion for sure!" Trevor's eyes shine in greed. "Imagine it! We might actually become executives!"
"Preach it!"
Ed felt like his brain just died at the dumb imagination. ('I swear to God and Arceus that if these guys become my version of 'Jessie and James' I will kill them.') He can already feel so many headaches with that Trio of Infamous, yet lucky, team.
"Alright! Venomonth, come on out!" Throwing his device, Shaun released a lavender moth-like creature with light-purple wings, crown-shape horns on the top and big eyes. "Use Sleep Powder!" The moth cried as it began to flap its wings as green dust began to come out.
Goh began to panic, along with Sakura who quivered in fear. "W-What do we do?!" He asked Ed, who surprised him by how calm he was.
"Remember, Goh. Expect the unexpected, be four steps ahead." Ed smiled at him before he placed his fingers on his mouth and whistled hard.
"OTTOOOOOOOOOO!" A cry of a fearousuos bird.
*Wooooosh!*
Followed by a powerful gust of wind that pushes back the powder…right back at the criminals.
"What the-?!" Shaun could only gasp as the powder consumed him and his team. "But…how…?" He began to slur.
"Damn…he…really…izzzzzzzzz." Trevor followed as he flopped on the ground, his partner and his Pokemon following him.
Goh blinked several times as his brain was trying to function at understanding what the heck just happened. Something getting cut brought back his attention, and almost yelped in panic when he saw the same Pidgeotto from before holding a piece of the net and cutting it.
"Appreciate your assistance." Ed thanks the bird by scratching its shin, which it coos in joy. "As promised, two Sitrus Berries for your troubles." He pulled out the two berries, which the bird chirped in delight before flapping a bit and grabbing them with its talons before flying away. "Take care!"
"Otto!"
Ed waved away before releasing a sigh. "Thank Arceus above it followed through. I really wasn't sure it would work. Pure freaking luck that Sleep Powder."
"...What the fuck just happened?!" Goh finally lost it.
Ed looks at him with a gasp, "Young man! You kiss your mother with that language?! Who taught you that?!"
"Oh you know, if it just came out when YOU TOOK DOWN TWO MEMBERS OF TEAM ROCKET IN SECONDS!" Goh yelled out. "Like, how?!"
"Hehe!" Ed chuckled. "Like I said, always be four steps ahead."
"Master!"
Ed turned to the side to see Sakura coming at him while holding the device that was trapping Rotom. "Can I open it?"
"Go ahead." Ed nodded.
With one Pound attack from Sakura, the machine broke and Rotom was free. The electric ghost squealed in delight at freedom as it began to zip around the fairy type, who giggled at its display.
"Boss!" Ed turned to Pikachu, having taken out a rope from somewhere. "Here's the rope."
"Thank you." Ed took it from his partner's hand. "Now then, let's do this quickly and deliver these guys to the police."
Goh simply stared…just stared at how one guy, with nothing much to show, effortlessly did more than anybody has ever done; even him!
"Hey, Goh! Come over here and help me!"
In surprise, Goh found himself following his command, his mind thinking one thing. ('Dude…H-He's incredible…')
