Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon. It belongs to Nintendo and Game Freak.
Hi all,
Here's the next chapter. Lucas encounters the gang again, and this time their encounter is not going to end without violence.
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Chapter 6
The next morning, Lucas set off early once again, determined to stay away from Chadwick and his henchmen. Rather than leaving through the town entrance, he chose to take a different route. After perusing a map of the town, he stumbled upon a narrow trail that meandered alongside a small stream located to the east of the town's entrance. The trail had become obsolete after a series of Pokemon attacks took place there. Lucas judged it worth the risk, as he would rather take on wild Pokemon than members of the Fearow Gang.
Once Lucas was out of the town, he summoned Icarus and headed northeast towards the forest. His goal for today was to find the elusive Wicked Fluxroot and complete the three guild missions that were currently active. Of course, accumulating more experience points was his main priority. But he still had the limitation of only possessing one Pokemon who had a finite amount of energy. He would need to go back to town in a few hours, which meant there was a possibility he might encounter Chadwick.
To facilitate this, and spend more time outside, he decided to buy three Potions from the Pokemart, at the expense of two hundred Pokedollars each. They were used to heal Pokemon from minor injuries and recover energy levels. It may not have been the most effective item available, but it was ideal for use with lower-level Pokemon. It was an extravagant expense considering his current funds, but he had no other choice. Hopefully, he would be able to recoup that expense from today's adventures, at the very least. If he could gather additional ingredients and complete more missions for the guild, it would be even better.
Even though he couldn't increase Icarus' level until his stats were maxed out again, he could still earn some more experience. Soon, he would have to engage in battles with Pokémon in the forest, where their average level was higher. According to the guidebook, Icarus wouldn't gain experience points from Pokemon that had a level difference of more than five.
"Pidgey," Icarus called, before dropping a dead Rattata at his feet.
"Thanks for sharing, buddy," Lucas grimaced.
Icarus had gone ahead and returned with a gift. Despite knowing that controlling the Rattata population was common in Kanto, he felt sorry for them. The reason for this control was justified, as Rattata could become a huge problem if left unchecked. They were known for their explosive population growth, surpassing all other Pokémon in Kanto in terms of egg production. This posed a danger to the environment, as well as to both Pokémon and humans alike.
After trekking for more than an hour, they finally reached the outskirts of the forest. Lucas ventured along its border in search of the Wicked Fluxroot. After twenty minutes of searching, he finally discovered a small cluster of roots that would be sufficient to fulfil his mission. Donning his gloves, he gingerly extracted them from the earth, being cautious of their razor-sharp protrusions that could easily pierce through both glove and flesh.
Icarus emitted a sharp and urgent trill, from his perched atop a tree. Lucas spun around and cursed when he caught sight of a group of figures in the distance. Among them, Chadwick's unmistakably obese figure stood out. Above them, a Spearow gracefully glided through the air. While Lucas couldn't determine its level from this vantage point, it was highly probable that the Spearow surpassed Icarus' level.
The asshole doesn't know when to give up. Had he left town right after him?
Lucas quickly placed the Wicked Fluxroot into his inventory and stood up. There was only one option if he was going to escape, and that was to head into the forest.
"Let's go, Icarus," Lucas said.
Lucas rushed into the forest, and Icarus swooped down and perched on his shoulder. The gang was hot on his trail, trailing him by several hundred metres. He needed to widen the gap between him and his pursuers and seek out a suitable hiding spot. However, evading the sharp eyes of the Spearow flying above would prove to be a challenge. Regrettably, the forest they were navigating was too exposed, making it easy for the Pokemon to keep an eye on their every move.
Lucas ran through the forest with wild abandon, disregarding the hazardous tree roots and uneven terrain beneath his feet. Every bush or tree along his path could potentially hide a Pokemon, but such concerns were luxuries he could afford to worry about. After a few minutes, he started having difficulty breathing, and his leg throbbed with pain, protesting against the mistreatment. Above him, the Spearow let out an ominous caw, serving as a reminder that he hadn't managed to elude its watchful gaze.
"Pidgey," Icarus called out as he flew off Lucas' shoulder. Icarus stayed ahead of him at a constant pace, making sure that Lucas was able to keep up with him. After a minute, he suddenly veered off to his left, leaving Lucas wondering where he was being taken.
Trusting that Icarus' senses were a lot better than his own, he continued to follow him, although he had slowed down to a jog, no longer able to maintain his pace.
Icarus landed on Lucas' shoulder and extended a wing, indicating something in the distance. Just ahead, there stood a giant tree, towering above the surrounding trees. As they approached, his gaze drifted upwards and was bombarded with a sea of text as the Pineco hanging in the trees came into view. There must have been dozens of him.
"Why on earth have you brought me here?" Lucas questioned.
Icarus nonchalantly shrugged, his face radiating innocence. He seemed to be saying, "You are responsible for coming up with a brilliant plan."
"I can't believe you had no idea where you were taking me!" Lucas said with a scowl. "So I was just blindly following you? How exactly are all these Pineco supposed to help me?"
Looking up at the Pineco, Lucas could see that the Pokemon's levels were between levels five and nine. What particularly caught his attention was that all the ones he scanned further possessed the move: Explosion. The entire scene was reminiscent of a giant Christmas tree, except it was decorated with grenades instead of ornaments. The unusual thought triggered an idea in his mind, causing him to break into a wide grin.
Looking down at the base of the tree, he noticed a compact crawl space that looked just big enough for him to squeeze himself into. Although it wasn't an ideal choice, it appeared to be his only option.
"I must have lost my marbles to even attempt this, but desperate times call for desperate measures. My legs are about to give up on me."
Lucas turned towards Icarus and spoke in a serious tone, "I have a task for you, but I must warn you, it carries a certain degree of risk."
Lucas told him what he needed to do, and Icarus nodded. He flew up into the tree, careful to avoid coming too close to a Pineco. He perched on one of the highest branches and waited. Since he wasn't attacking them, the Pineco ignored him.
He knew that the Spearow was flying above them, carefully watching their every move. There was a slim possibility that the Pokemon would understand his plan, but he doubted its likelihood. Even if he possessed the necessary intelligence, how could he effectively communicate that to his trainer?
Lucas seated himself beneath the tree, with his back resting against the crawl space. It's time for him to showcase his acting skills. He clutched his side, desperately trying to convey his overwhelming exhaustion and deep despair. Every second felt like an eternity as he anxiously awaited the gang's arrival, his eyes fixated on the Pineco ominously suspended above him. The success of his plan could go completely awry if the Pineco decides to drop onto the ground prematurely.
Five minutes later, the gang finally appeared. Although it took them longer than he had initially anticipated, he couldn't help but attribute their delay to Chadwick. The overweight man was gasping for air, bent over and clutching his knees. Surrounding him were four others, including the two he had encountered earlier.
"I have finally caught up to you," Chadwick panted, standing up straight. "Since you made me chase after you, I will ensure that I inflict even more pain on you."
"Hi, Chadwick," Lucas said, raising a feeble arm and waving. "If it wasn't for my leg injury, you would have never caught up to me."
"Don't call me that," Chadwick snapped.
"Spearow, return," one of the men called, and it flew down to perch on his shoulders.
All five individuals approached him with a confident swagger, fully believing they had the situation under control. They glanced up at the Pineco briefly, quickly dismissing it as a negligible threat. As they drew within a few metres, a hint of common sense returned, prompting them to reach for their Pokeballs, although they didn't release them.
"Did you seriously believe I'd simply give you a good ol' thrashing?" Charlie asked. "Oh, dearie me, that ship has sailed. This, my friend, is where your journey reaches its fateful conclusion."
"Is there a reason why you are committing murder? What did I ever do to you?" Lucas asked.
"It's a requirement to kill somebody if I want to rank up to Lieutenant."
Seriously, the gang was much worse than he could have ever imagined. Killing someone just to climb the ranks and gain seniority? What kind of twisted actions did they have to take in order to become their leader? If the mayor and authorities are allowing this gang to exist in Pallet Town, there must be something seriously wrong with them.
"Is there anything else left to say, before I end your life?" Charles chuckled, his bloated countenance oozing with contentment.
"Yes, look up," Lucas said, raising his finger towards the sky. "Pidgey, use Gust!"
Pidgey took flight from its perch, infused its wings with flying-type energy, and unleashed Gust towards the largest cluster of Pineco. A powerful gust of wind suddenly emerged from beneath them, blowing them off the tree and causing them to plummet towards the ground. Several of them exploded while still in mid-air, causing the tree to shake from the powerful blast. A chain reaction was triggered, causing even more Pineco to cascade down from the tree. It was complete chaos.
As soon as he gave the order, Lucas swiftly crawled inside the tree, wriggling his body frantically in an attempt to get in as far as he could. To his astonishment, he discovered that the base of the tree was predominantly hollow, creating a spacious cavity. Just in the nick of time, he managed to reach the far side right before the primary explosion triggered.
The gang members found themselves in a state of stunned silence, momentarily unable to react. The events had unfolded with such suddenness that they were taken completely by surprise. The Spearow let out a cry before taking flight from its trainer's shoulder in an attempt to flee from the bombardment. However, its escape was abruptly interrupted when a falling Pineco unexpectedly struck it, causing an immediate explosion.
"Run!" Chadwick's scream caused them to quickly turn around and run away in the opposite direction.
They had only managed to go a few feet when the main bulk of the Pineco landed. A series of consecutive explosions engulfed their vision, leaving them stranded amidst the chaos. Each of them succumbed to darkness, their bodies blown to pieces.
The tree trembled violently from the explosions, and Lucas feared that it would fall given the severity of the explosions. What in the world possessed him to come up with such a reckless plan? Lucas anxiously waited with bated breath until the explosions finally ceased. The ensuing silence weighed heavily upon him, as he contemplated the gravity of his actions.
After a minute, he heard Icarus call for him, and Lucas crawled out of the tree. What in the world? It was a lot more devastation than he could have ever anticipated. The scene outside was a complete disaster. There were countless Pineco scattered all over the ground, surrounded by the deep craters created by the explosions. Small fires burned ominously in various areas on the ground, their flames greedily reaching out for more fuel in the surroundings.
Lucas cautiously took a few steps forward. His foot collided with an object, and he cast his gaze downward. He was confronted with a grim sight; an arm, unattached from its body. A wave of horror washed over him. Was he the one responsible for this?
Overwhelmed by the intensity of his emotions, he crumpled to the ground, unleashing the contents of his churning stomach. Tremors shook his body as he wrestled with the overwhelming shame and indescribable horror of his actions. How many had he killed? Were they all dead?
Icarus landed on the ground, looking at his trainer curiously. He pecked at his hand to grab his attention. When he was ignored, he pecked harder until Lucas flinched. He broke out of his stupor, petting his partner absently.
"Icarus," Lucas said. "We need to get out of here."
There was absolutely no way he would share the events that transpired here with anyone. It would be preferable if the incident were regarded as nothing more than a tragic accident. He should get out of here, as the commotion may have alerted someone in the vicinity. Before leaving, he took great care to extinguish the fires by smothering them with dirt. He wanted to avoid adding a forest fire to his list of sins.
He reached into his pocket and retrieved his compass to determine the direction in which he needed to exit the forest. With heavy thoughts filling his mind, Lucas began to walk.
It took only a few minutes for it to finally remember that all of the Pineco was left on the ground. Did this count as defeating them? Would he gain experience from it?
He opened his status window and saw that his accumulated experience had skyrocketed by over two thousand. Checking Icarus', he noticed that his experience had increased by the same amount. This indicated that there were more than forty Pineco that had triggered Explosion and subsequently fallen unconscious. He also received a nice bonus of over two hundred Pokedollars from his Bountiful Gains skill.
He reached level three in his Pokemon Trainer profession but didn't acquire any new skills. However, it did reduce the skill points needed to level up Bountiful Gains by one. So it was like receiving a skill point, but he didn't get a choice in its distribution. It was still a nice bonus.
The rewards he obtained were a delightful surprise, despite the manner in which they were acquired. Lucas snapped himself out of his despondency by slapping his cheeks. He hadn't intended to end their lives, and they had been trying to kill him. If they had just left him alone, they would be alive today.
The method he used to acquire a lot of experience might have been improvised, but it could be a promising method for levelling up in the future.
Before entering the town, Lucas took out the ingredients from his inventory that were required to fulfil the guild missions. Upon arriving at the Adventurer's Guild, he encountered the same attendant who served him last time.
She warmly greeted him with a smile. "Hello, sir. How can I help you?"
Lucas handed her the mission slips and ingredients. "I've finished these missions."
"Great! Just a moment please, while our expert inspects the ingredients to assess their quality."
Lucas examined the guild board as he waited but found no available gathering missions at the Initiate rank. He would need to return later to check again, as more missions could potentially become available at any time.
The receptionist returned to the counter. "The ingredients are all in good condition, so you have successfully completed the missions. If you will hand me your guild card, I will update your information and give you your compensation."
Altogether, he earned two hundred Pokedollars and advanced to Initiate 2. It wasn't a significant leap in terms of rewards or difficulty. The Initiate Rank is designed for beginners and levelling up is relatively easy. He would only face more challenging missions once he reached the Amateur Rank.
Lucas departed from the guild and made his way towards the Pokemon School, which was situated in the heart of the town. Although he lacked the necessary Pokedollars, he was determined to take the first step towards enrolling in classes. After all, he was quickly running out of time to meet his four-month deadline.
The Pokemon School stood out among the other buildings due to its sturdy protective walls, a characteristic shared only by upper-class neighbourhoods. This at least indicated that some level of concern was shown for the safety of the kids. However, the kids at the orphanage were not included as they were homeschooled. They did not receive an equal level of protection.
A guard at the entrance directed him towards the reception area where he could inquire about adult classes. The old lady greeted him cordially when he stepped up to her desk.
"Where do I sign up for Pokemon Breeder classes?" Lucas asked.
"We don't have a class for that subject, dearie," the secretary informed him. "Pallet Town is too small to have such a specialised class. There is one in Viridian City."
Lucas frowned. He never considered that he wouldn't be able to take a class here, as he had been more focused on obtaining the required funds.
The secretary handed him a pamphlet. "If I may make a suggestion. You may sign up for online classes, although they are more expensive. Another idea is to work at Professor Oak's laboratory to gain experience. He is a licensed Pokemon Breeder, which means he can share his knowledge with you and eliminate the need for taking classes."
"As if he's not busy enough?" Lucas questioned, trying to hide his disappointment.
"You're probably right," she smiled in apology.
"Thanks for the information," Lucas said as he left.
Well, things didn't go according to his expectations. Now he had to rely on Delia to put in a good word for him with Professor Oak. If he managed to secure a job there, he might have the opportunity to learn from him too, although he wasn't very optimistic about it.
There was one last thing he needed to do before he returned home. He found a bench and summoned Icarus out again so he could read his status page.
Species: Pidgey; Tiny Bird Pokemon
Gender: Male
Status: Owned
Favourability: Neutral: 820/1000
Favourite Food: Iaflepettle Seeds
Condition: Excellent
Level: 7
Next: [12/100%]
Exp Cache: [2600]
Current Level Potential Met?: No
Special Ability: Big Pecks
Attack: 35
Special Attack: 18
Defence: 17
Special Defence: 18
Speed: 37
Luck: 6
Moves:
Tackle
Quick Attack
Gust
Sand Attack
Description: Icarus is a Pidgey that belongs to Lucas Walker. He is perplexed by the changes in his trainer but he likes him much better than before. He enjoys dropping dead Rattata at his trainer's feet and grooming his trainer's hair.
Icarus' information had been updated after increasing his Insight skill. He learned that Icarus had the Big Pecks special ability, which prevented his Defence from being decreased by stat-lowering moves. It was a useful ability since Icarus' defence was his worst stat.
He found the description amusing. It was not generic, unlike when he examined wild Pokemon, but rather more personalised. Icarus demonstrated intelligence by being able to perceive the disparities between himself and his predecessor. He was unsure if the change was a result of being tamed or if there were other factors at play.
He opened his menu to check out Icarus' favourite food. According to the guidebook, he learned that if the trainer fed Pokemon their favourite foods occasionally, then it increased the speed at which he gained favourability. They were not considered nutritious meals and had to be given sparingly.
Lucas headed over to a speciality store that sold Iaflepettle Seeds. They were a little pricey, but the benefits he would gain made it worth the cost. When the favorability of his Pokemon surpasses Neutral, they receive a stat boost. He was uncertain whether the bonus applied only to his system or if all trainers received a similar benefit. Regardless, he had to pursue all methods that would enhance Icarus' strength.
Lucas, upon his return to the Ketchum house, was not inclined to engage in conversation with anyone. He entered his room and closed the door. Icarus flew over and landed on the stand positioned next to the window. Lucas placed some Iaflepettle Seeds in his bird feeder, causing Icarus' eyes to gleam as he eagerly pecked at them.
His room used to belong to Delia's brother, which was rather unsettling when he thought about it. He already bore a passing resemblance to the deceased man, and now he found himself sleeping in the same bedroom.
It was an ordinary medium-sized bedroom, furnished with the typical bed and furniture. The walls and shelves were adorned with numerous Pokemon paraphernalia, suggesting that the man had shared the same level of obsession with Pokemon as Ash does.
Lucas sat on his bed and accessed his status window. Now that he gained a plethora of experience points, he could level up and gain some more skill points. He spent all his accumulated experience points. Even after the steep increase in experience requirements after level five, it was barely enough to reach level eight.
He had five skill points to allocate across three skills. Levelling up his Coach skill appeared to be an obvious choice since it only required one skill point, whereas the other two were more expensive. It could also be an indication of how beneficial they were to him. Lucas bit his lip in indecision but finally decided to take the plunge and levelled up Coach to level two.
Skill: Coach Level 2/5 Next: 2 SP Type: Passive Charges: -
Description: Training your Pokemon to become stronger should benefit the player as well. For every stat the Pokemon gains through training, he receives one hundred experience points. Training efficiency has increased by fifteen per cent. Levelling up this skill even further will provide the player with additional benefits.
The upgrade surpassed his expectations. Not only did the experience gain double from training Icarus' stats, but it was also fifteen per cent easier. It was perfect in this situation, where Icarus had accumulated a lot of experience but had to wait to train his stats before he could level up.
There was a knock on the door, and despite his reluctance, Lucas bid them to enter. Delia peeked inside, her face clouded with deep concern.
"Lucas, are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Lucas said with a forced smile.
"I was concerned that something might have happened since you returned so early."
"No, I've just finished my guild missions, and I had some errands to take care of in town."
"Well, okay," Delia said as she stepped into the room."I have some exciting news about the job opportunity at Professor Oaks' lab."
"Oh?" Lucas's interest was piqued.
"He is willing to take you on a trial basis," Delia exclaimed. "Daisy will show you how to take care of the Pokemon for the next week, and then Professor Oak will make the final decision. You start tomorrow."
"Really?" Lucas couldn't hide his enthusiasm. "I have met Daisy. She's alright."
"I bet she is," Delia said with a smirk. "I will be preparing lunch soon, but you have to get off your butt and join me in the dining room."
"Yes, mother."
"I'm too young to be your mother," Delia retorted as she left the room.
Although his day started off unpleasantly, things were taking a positive turn for him. He now had the opportunity to approach Professor Oak and gain knowledge from him.
The following day, Lucas dedicated his time to training with Icarus before he needed to leave for Professor Oaks' lab. He continued to work with Poliwrath, focusing on improving its stats and enhancing Icarus' moves. Rather than adding new moves to its repertoire, Lucas prioritised refining and mastering the moves he already possessed, specifically Quick Attack and Gust.
He questioned the usefulness of using Tackle since it was essentially an inferior version of Quick Attack. As for Sand Attack, in order to effectively use it, he would have to enhance Icarus' proficiency with ground-type energy. He wasn't sure if it was worth the effort. His goal was to limit each of his Pokemon to a maximum of eight moves. Having an excessive number of moves would overwhelm him and his Pokemon and have a negative impact on their performance in battle. Having more options was not always better.
After an hour of training, he put Icarus back into his Pokeball and made his way to the lab. The morning was invigorating, with the sun shining down warmly on his back. It helped to dispel some of the gloom lingering from yesterday's incidents. Unfortunately, his sleep continued to be plagued by nightmares, but now they featured visions of the gruesome remains of the five gang members.
Lucas was waiting anxiously for someone to stumble upon the discovery in the forest. He was unable to shake off the unsettling thought that everyone would peer at him with judging eyes as if they were already aware of his guilt.
Lucas entered Oak's lab and made his way to the desk where Daisy stood by the counter, awaiting his arrival. He eyed her with appreciation. She chose to wear a comfortable pair of jeans and a green v-neck t-shirt, complemented by her signature green hairband. Even in casual clothes, she looked amazing.
"Good morning, Lucas," Daisy greeted him with a smile.
"Hello, Daisy. I am looking forward to working with you," Lucas replied.
"Allow me to show you around the Pokemon enclosures before we start working," Daisy said, guiding him through the hallway and toward the back entrance.
They stepped outside, and Lucas whistled in admiration upon beholding the scene before him. The rear section of Professor Oak's estate gently sloped downward, providing an excellent vantage point for Lucas to appreciate the vast expanse of land. When viewed from this perspective, the property appeared even more extensive. Numerous fences crisscrossed the land, dividing it into numerous square enclosures, and within them was a multitude of different Pokémon. But they were not very secure.
"Why are they just ordinary fences?" Lucas asked. "They won't be able to contain the Pokemon."
"None of these Pokemon are wild," Daisy assured him. "They are either owned by my grandfather or have been lent to him by others. Additionally, there are several Pokemon that are currently undergoing rehabilitation for significant injuries and trauma."
"I see," Lucas said. "Well, that's a load of my mind."
"Be careful," Daisy said. "Some of these Pokémon may still exhibit unpredictable behaviour due to the mistreatment they have endured at the hands of their trainers."
"Utter bastards."
"That's for sure," Daisy agreed before walking ahead. "Come on. There is something I want you to see."
Lucas trailed behind her, taking a look at the various different Pokémon, many of which he recognised from the Kanto and Johto regions in the games, but there were also some from the Hoenn region. There were a number of Pokémon that he didn't recognise, from later generations of games he did not play. Lucas reminded himself to conduct further research on all of the different Pokémon species.
Their levels varied from level three all the way up to level sixty. A massive Nidoking grazing in one of the enclosures caught his attention. It was level fifty-eight. Its gaze pierced through him as if he were its prey, igniting a sense of urgency in Lucas to quickly distance himself from its menacing glare.
They walked for another five minutes before they reached a huge enclosure that had a small stream running through it. Daisy walked up to the fence, but Lucas hesitated, transfixed by the sight in front of him.
There, in the centre of the clearing, lay an enormous Charizard on its side. It was as large as a small house and undoubtedly the most terrifying sight he had ever beheld. This massive Pokemon was on par with Palkia in sheer size. He couldn't help but wonder how many years it took for the Charizard to grow to such immense proportions.
Species: Charizard
Level: 83
Condition: Perfect
Threat Level: Zero/Lethal
The threat level wasn't reassuring. Lucas interpreted it as the Charizard having the capacity to be lethal, but only if it chose it to be.
"Come on and meet Scarlet," Daisy said, hopping over the fence.
Lucas reluctantly followed her. What were the chances that he would be transmigrated to another world with a system again once this monster killed him?
"Hello, girl," Daisy greeted Scarlett, reaching up to pat her snout. It was only possible because Charizard was lying on her side. "I would like you to meet Lucas. He'll be joining us here, so let's make sure we treat him kindly, alright?"
Scarlet eyed him insolently, then raised its head to the sky and unleashed a tremendous burst of flame.
Lucas retreated, his gaze fixated on the Charizard until his back pressed against the fence.
"Lucas, look out behind you," Daisy called urgently.
Lucas spun around and met the eyes of a small Pokemon perched on the fence. A current of electricity was sparking off its body.
"Whoa, take it easy, pal," Lucas stammered.
So, what do you think? Who is the Pokemon on the fence? There is no doubt that it will be shocking.
Thanks for reading.