Chapter 4: A Training Camp Part I
Professor Oak stared down at me, tapping his finger against his crossed arms. I felt as though I were in the principal's office, waiting for the inevitable reprimand.
"So, what do you have to say for yourself?" Oak spoke with a slow drawl.
Not gonna lie, it was mildly terrifying. I glanced down, trying to channel every ounce of innocent child-like spirit within me.
Isaac uses Baby-Dolls, but it missed!
As Oak continued to stare down at me, I sighed. "Well, I did use the Pokéball to defend myself," I said, attempting to sound nonchalant.
Raising one eyebrow, I could tell he wasn't exactly impressed by that line of argument. "And it's very clear that this Abra is quite powerful," I dared to look up at Oak.
He began to tap his foot at a slow pace. "You do realize that Pokéball isn't registered in your name, right?" He answered with a slight huff, still making a very stern look.
I paused, contemplating.
"Hmm, that may be true, but the Arc Phone actually has registered this Abra as my Pokémon," I muttered, clicking the recall feature in the My Pokémon interface on my Arc Phone. The Pokéball in question went from the counter to my hand in a small flash of light.
Despite the tense atmosphere, Professor Oak couldn't help but seem fascinated. After a moment to rein in his look of interest, he said, "I guess that would be interesting to study further in regard to the Arc Phone." He spoke aloud while starting to take notes.
Yes! I had managed to skirt the issue as I began to inch my way towards the door.
"Oh? So, you think I forgot about the fact that we're technically not allowed to catch a Pokémon?" He pointed out a glint of mischief in his eyes that was a bit concerning.
"No?"
"I will have to think of a proper punishment just for you," he said, wearing a smile that began to freak me out honestly.
"Oh well, I guess that can wait. In the meantime, I suggest you work with your starter," he said, still wearing that frighteningly happy smile as he continued to take more notes.
I needed no further encouragement; with that, I shot out the door.
[Time Skip]
Stepping into a corner of one of the corrals, I noticed that it was relatively busy this time of day. Pulling out my single Pokéball, I hit the release button, and with a pop, Abra appeared before me.
"Hmm, so this is Oak's corral?" he mused.
"I blinked. You could hear while in the Pokéball?" I asked.
"Yes, Trainer. It is an option; I can sense the surrounding areas and hear conversations or catch glimpses of them at times."
"That's pretty neat," I muttered, pondering if that ability had something to do with Abra being a Psychic-Type.
Shaking off that thought and readjusting my focus, I said, "Well, I want to go over the plans I have as a trainer, especially concerning you."
Abra merely nodded. Tough crowd…
"First! Would you like a name?"
"A name?" he replied with a slight head turn.
"Yes, a name! I know almost everyone in this world refers to Pokémon by the name of their species, but I want my team to be more special! I want them to be remembered through the pages of history!" I spoke with fervor in my eyes.
After a long pause, Abra replied, "I suppose a name would not impede my abilities."
I smiled broadly; that was the spirit! Now, what to name him? Hmm, just how cliché did I want to be with this one?
Who was I kidding?
"How about the name Merlin? He was a famous magician steeped in myth and legend—a powerful magician who served as a high advisor to a great and noble king."
"Hmm, I suppose that would be an acceptable name for one such as myself," Merlin thought, sounding pleased.
I smiled, "Well, Merlin, I want to discuss my plans for the future."
"Very well, Trainer," Merlin thought, stifling a yawn.
"First, I plan on gathering a group of powerful Pokémon that will be our team and family, and you will oversee this group."
Merlin raised his head slightly.
"Secondly, you are one of the Pokémon that can Mega-evolve, and we will work on perfecting that power as soon as we acquire the necessary stones, and you reach your final evolution."
His questioning look prompted me to spend the next couple of minutes explaining all the details of Mega-evolution. Merlin seemed genuinely interested in this enhancement, as evidenced by the many follow-up questions he asked.
"There are quite a few ideas about the different ways we can empower you, but first, we need to work out a training plan until we go on our journey in a year."
Over the next few minutes, I shared the plans I had formulated since catching Merlin, including my thoughts on his evolutions.
In my opinion, the Abra line and Psychic-Types, in general, have immense potential. Trainers like Elite Four Lucian and Gym Leader Sabrina make exceptional use of the many strategies available when battling with an Alakazam. Having been around Ally, Oak's Alakazam, I knew I would be glad to have one on my team. Their intelligence regarding practically any subject can skyrocket if given access to ample data and information.
Considering I possessed a wealth of knowledge concerning Pokémon, it was now just a matter of imparting this information to Merlin and watching him thrive.
Take, for example, the Psychic-Type move: Telekinesis. This move raises the target into the air for a period, making it easier for additional moves to land effectively. Most people underestimate how a move works and its broader implications. They simply have their Pokémon learn or TM the move and stop thinking about it.
The move controls matter!
In discussing this concept, I considered the various forms of matter: solid, liquid, gas, and plasma. I theorize that a properly trained Alakazam or Kadabra could master these forms of matter control, based on the premise that Telekinesis allows the Pokémon, through Psychic-Type energy, to control matter itself.
What does this mean? Could Merlin, in the future, catch plasma, better known as lightning, in a bottle? Could he bend rivers or oceans to his will? Or perhaps even control the blood in the veins of his opponents? The potential here is astounding, all stemming from a single move! And I am most certainly not downplaying its impact!
Of course, there is Dark-Type coverage and various moves that can counter Telekinesis, but if Merlin surpasses the point of mastery in it, the possibilities could be endless!
Imagine if I had Merlin pull a Starscourge Radahn and summon meteors—it wouldn't matter if the Pokémon resisted Rock/Ground moves if it got hit directly by a meteor shower! I don't care what Pokémon it is; that's going to hurt!
Adding in the effects of the Psychic-Type move Gravity—and all its implications…
Consider a Pidgeot. What if we combined moves like Agility, Tailwind, and Quick Attack/Aerial Ace? That would give Flying-Types a kind of super speed!
Most trainers don't bother with these kinds of thoughts. The exception lies with top-tier trainers like the Elite Fours, Champions, Gym Leaders, and certain ACE trainers. These titans of the Pokémon world often devise alternate or combined moves, or even create entirely new ones. To reach that level, one must see beyond merely using moves in a conventional manner.
These are the people who changed history!
From my research and conversations with Oak, I gathered that while combining or altering moves isn't overly difficult in theory, it becomes more challenging in practice. Often, it's a creative and inventive mind that leads to new techniques or moves.
But nothing will stop me from shaking the very foundations of this world with my planned techniques and moves!
As that thought took shape in my mind, a sketchy grin began to spread across my face.
"Trainer, you'll never attract a mate with such a look on your face," Merlin projected.
I twitched.
"I was just considering a move I want you to learn in the future," I said with a smile.
"I am aware. I try not to pry into others' private thoughts too often, but you were practically screaming them in my ear…"
"Huh? I guess I did get a little excited there, didn't I? Well, what do you think?" I stared at Merlin, raising an eyebrow.
"Hmm. Testing would need to be done, but it certainly sounds promising, and the implications are grand in scope for such a move, if proven effective. Your logic is sound."
That almost sounded like a compliment…
Anyways, I pulled out my Arc Phone and clicked the Trainer/Pokémon training plans section of the Pokédex app. Selecting the single Pokémon icon in the app, I was able to view a list of plans and move suggestions. I then pulled up Merlin's information alongside it.
[This Abra knows the moves: Teleport, Thunder Punch, Thunder Wave, and Rest. Egg move: Power Trick.]
[Ability: Synchronize. Hidden Ability: Magic Guard.]
Looking at this, I could say that Merlin was quite powerful for an Abra.
"Hey Merlin, could you run through your move set?" I asked, gesturing to the empty clearing.
"I suppose— for the sake of understanding…" he muttered, deep in thought.
First, he used Teleport, popping into the center of the field with a small flash. Next, Merlin began to spark up and extended his hand toward a boulder in the clearing. A series of golden halos rushed toward and impacted the boulder, creating a slight half-circle cone of repeating golden circles for a moment. Following this, one of Merlin's hands crunched into a fist and began to spark. Then he quickly slammed his sparking fist into the boulder. A golden discharge erupted from the point of impact. Lastly, he struck a sleeping pose and used Rest.
When his eyes reopened, I took that moment to speak up, "Good job, Merlin! What about Trick Room?"
"I do not possess the full capacity to use the move with full efficiency yet, Trainer."
"Hmm, no worries; that move will only be effective once you evolve," I muttered, considering that an Abra might have difficulty managing the energy required to execute that move.
"By the way, how close are you to evolving?" I asked after a moment of thought. Given how powerful he was, I was honestly surprised that he hadn't evolved yet.
Merlin paused for a moment.
"Hmm, I have the ability to evolve, Trainer, but I have hesitated due to a lack of need or reason."
"How do you feel about evolving?" A slight twinge of worry began to filter through my thoughts.
"After viewing your memories of Mega Evolution, I can confidently say that I wish to reach my final form and beyond."
That was a relief! Unlike Ash, I wanted and needed my Pokémon to evolve to their final stages so we could be our best.
I love Pikachu to death… but come on?! Not evolving for like twenty years!?
That could never be me!
"Well, as long as it's not causing you any harm, let's have you stay as an Abra while we maximize our training." I spoke decisively.
Merlin merely nodded in agreement.
"Okay! There are a couple of things and moves I want us to work on before you evolve into a Kadabra. The first is endurance and control. The more we work on these as an Abra, the more benefits you'll reap when you evolve." Plans formed in my mind.
"Second is a list of moves that I want you to learn before your evolution. The moves I want to teach you are Psychic, Protect, Sleep Talk, Telekinesis, and Swift. If we have time before your evolution, we can investigate adding Calm Mind and Shadow Ball."
I had grand plans for the Sleep Talk and Rest combo... Swift would serve as a decent offensive move until Merlin evolved and acquired Psybeam, offering him a solid defense combined with an effective attack option. Protect is a no-brainer, serving as another move for which I have plans...
"Well," I said, "let me know if at any point it gets painful. I'd rather do extra work later than have you suffer now." I stated firmly.
"Yes, Trainer. I will make sure to let you know when it's time to hold my hand."
I didn't know how, but I felt like he was mocking me.
"Anyway, I spoke with Ally, Oak's Alakazam, and she has agreed to tutor you in exchange for details about the history of these worlds. That tutoring will begin tomorrow morning."
"I will endeavor to gain as much knowledge and logic as I can from this backroom deal, Trainer. However, I wish to spend some time in my Pokéball. I need my sleep."
"Oh, of course," I said as I grabbed his ball and returned him inside.
If there was one thing I missed about my old world, besides my family, it was music. As someone who listened to music every day of his life, going without it was rather rough. The music in this world, in simple terms, sucked!
If I could take a fraction of a fraction of a freaking fraction, I could become the best artist in the world! There was barely a music industry! I never thought I would have to actually mourn the loss of good music. What the heck? I would never again hear Michael Jackson, Dolly Parton, Whitney Houston, or the Beatles!
Now I can hear you thinking, "He's in the magical world of friendship and Pokémon! Why is he concerned about that?"
Why? Because I'm never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down, never gonna run around and desert you! I'll never again hear those sweet lyrics.
Moving on…
As I sat in that clearing, my thoughts turned to the future team I wanted to assemble. Of course, Merlin was going to be the Team Leader. An Alakazam would be a powerful Pokémon, and I could see that clearly. But what about the Pokémon I wanted to catch, and how many did I ultimately want?
On one hand, I didn't want to be like Ash, who has over a hundred Pokémon to his name, nor did I want a small six-member team. There are benefits to both a small and large group of Pokémon, each bringing its own sets of challenges. A small team means less to manage, allowing for more depth to be achieved in a shorter amount of time. A larger team, on the other hand, offers much more diversity. With a small team, even if all six had double typings, I would still miss out on several different types.
With a smaller group, I could arguably build stronger bonds with my Pokémon, while a larger group would certainly make it harder to spend enough time with each individual Pokémon and develop that desired deep bond.
After a lot of deep thought and discussions with Oak, I decided to find a happy medium. I honestly cannot say that after catching 6 or 12 Pokémon, if I saw a Pokémon I had only dreamed of having, I would stop myself—catching that Pokémon would be foolish! I mean, I dare anyone to say they wouldn't capture a shiny Charmander if it walked by!
At the same time, I desire to have a strong bond with all my Pokémon, not just the ones I can carry on my belt. I've settled on the thought of having a reasonable number of Pokémon.
This leads me to two Pokémon that I absolutely want to catch: Charizard and Metagross. Yes, I know it's cliché that Charizard is one of my favorites, but I grew up with the anime, and seeing a fire-breathing dragon was the bomb!
The Fire/Flying-type was one of the first Pokémon I decided to add to my list. An iconic Pokémon with two Mega Evolutions simply can't be beaten! Trainers like Lance, Leon, and Ash are all examples of Charizard being a total badass! I have to say that Ash's Charizard probably had the greatest potential of all his Pokémon, second only to Pikachu, simply because it had been with Ash the longest. However, Ash really didn't handle the situation well at all. Now that I'm in this world and have researched Dragon and dragon-like Pokémon, it's clear what happened with Ash and Charizard.
While the Charmander line doesn't have the Dragon typing, they do possess Dragon-like characteristics that make them challenging to train properly. Out of the three Kanto traditional starters, Charmander takes the longest to mature and grow, often seriously challenging its trainer in the later evolutions. There are accounts of trainers being attacked by their starters; this isn't the slapstick humor where you take a Flamethrower to the face and walk it off like in the anime—these are actual reported injuries or deaths because Charmeleon or Charizard attacked their trainers.
Ash's approach to Charizard was completely wrong and only seemed correct because of the plot! Understanding how to train the Charmander line is crucial for fulfilling its potential. I've already started working on my Trainer Plan and notes for a future Charizard. Since Charizard also has a frequently overlooked Flying typing, my plans include making my Charizard the fastest Pokémon on the planet!
My absolute dream would be to have a shiny Charmander; if there were one Pokémon that I could have shiny, it would be Charizard. Or maybe Greninja.
Now onto Metagross. Metagross is my second favorite Pokémon after Charizard, so of course, I have to catch one. The Steel/Psychic-type pseudo-legendary will pair nicely with my Alakazam and any other Psychic-types I may add to my team, serving as a cornerstone of the team for my favorite Champion: Steven Stone! As someone who had a hobby of collecting gemstones in my last life, I really vibed with Stone.
Steel typing also interests me, especially in terms of potential alterations. Apparently, many Steel-type Pokémon have bodies composed of the metal they consume before and after their various evolutions. When it comes to training a Metagross, finding the right metal combination or even creating a new metal specifically to form an unstoppable Steel-type is something I'm very eager to explore.
A lot of research will need to be done if I want to make the most out of that line of thought. For instance, I plan to compile a collection on different Fire-types and the highest temperatures that their flames can reach. Knowing these statistics could help me identify a metal highly resistant to anything but the hottest flames.
Metagross is essentially a floating supercomputer with arms, making it a formidable Psychic-type. The Beldum line is highly versatile, offering numerous opportunities for improvement. I came up with an idea for controllable vacuum spaces using Psychic power. One of the greatest weaknesses of Steel-types is Fire-type moves. By breaking down those moves to the most basic level of science, we can see that fire needs air to be effective. If we could figure out a way to make that work, Fire-types and their moves would lose their effectiveness right from the start.
And after all that…a large, crazed smile took over my face. I know of a location where a shiny one can be found, thanks to a certain rocket trio.
Getting up from where I had been lying, I headed back to the lab—apparently, Oak wanted me to meet some people.
A six-year-old Gary Oak was staring up at me.
Apparently, the people Oak wanted me to meet were his grandchildren, who had been at summer camp for the past few months and had only returned yesterday.
Daisy Oak, who was the same age as me at ten and a half, was planning to participate in contests that had gained global popularity after originating in the Hoenn region. She seemed like a nice girl, though a bit ditzy. Daisy also intended to enter Pokémon research, like her grandfather, once she was done with the contest scene. Oak was practically preening when she mentioned this; I suppose it's nice to have family members following in the family business.
This brings me back to the precocious little tike named Garrison Oak.
"Who are you?" Gary asked directly, his eyes not blinking.
"I'm working as a lab assistant for your grandfather," I replied.
"Aren't you a kid?"
I twitched. Don't yeet the child! Don't throw the grandson of the most influential member of the scientific community into a lake!
I hold a doctorate degree; sure, it's in Political Science, but come on!
"Hmm, currently, yes, I am a kid," I said as I glared down at him slightly.
Why am I angry at a child? I don't know, but I am!
"Probably not a good assistant if you're a kid!" The little Oak said with arrogance only a child could get away with.
I closed my eyes and pictured a calm blue lake—a calm blue lake with a gentle breeze.
"Your eye is twitching," Gary pointed out.
I am going to feed this brat to a Tyranitar. Yeah, that'll teach him some freaking manners!
"Gary, be nice. Isaac is really helping all of us understand Pokémon better," Professor Oak interjected, rescuing me from the insufferable brat.
"But he's a dumb kid," Gary muttered.
My eye twitched again. I'm going to shove him into a Victreebel...
"Now, now, kids can have ideas and breakthrough thoughts too," Professor Oak said with a slight tone of disapproval.
Yeah! Tell that brat!
"Okay," and just like that, Gary-freaking-Oak walked away without a care in the world!
I'll get my revenge, hehe. I'll send Ash some notes that will make him sooooo much stronger than that dumb little twig!
"You have to forgive my grandson, Isaac. He's at that age where he's questioning everything and everyone," Oak apologized, shaking his head.
"No worries, Professor. I was once that age too." Even as I said this, my eye twitched again. I was not that bad.
"Professor, may I ask a potentially touchy question?" I said cautiously.
Oak glanced at me. "You want to know about their parents?" he stated.
I stiffened slightly.
After a moment, I decided to go through with it. "As well as Ash's father."
Oak stiffened for a moment. After a second, he closed his eyes, seeming to lose himself in memories.
"I guess you would be interested in those areas," he sighed. "Well, as you know, about fifteen years ago, there was a war with a terrorist group named Team Rocket. It was not quite as devastating as the Great War, but in some ways worse. The League was caught off guard in a surprise attack that killed several powerful Gym Leaders and even a member of the Elite Four at the time. This period nearly saw the end of Indigo. People were divided and scared. Team Rocket gained ground in every part of Kanto and Johto, apart from Blackthorn." Sitting down, I could see the toll these events had taken on him.
"The League was instantly on the back foot in many regards. There were Rocket plants throughout the League and all of Indigo. I helped where I could, but by that time, I had decided to retire and focus on research. The real heroes were my son and his best friend, Ash's father—Harrison Oak and Ashton Ketchum, or as they like to be called, Blue and Red."
I stiffened; a chill ran up my spine. Blue and Red?
I see. That makes more sense than Giovanni being Ash's father, but still, what a shock.
I suppose there would be darker elements to the story I first thought...
"This conflict lasted around three years—three long, hard-fought years filled with blood and sorrow on all sides." He seemed to sag slightly.
"You don't have to do this if it's too painful," I said softly.
"No, that's alright. It's better that you hear it from me rather than from another source that may get the facts wrong."
"My son and Red were ultimately responsible for the League's victory. They, along with their teams, pushed Team Rocket to the brink of crushing defeat. With their help, Champion Pryce and the Elite Four managed to defeat Team Rocket and imprison nearly all of their members."
"Almost?" I questioned.
He seemed to age twenty years in that moment.
"They missed the leader and some of the major executives. We had thought they simply went into hiding; they would have been killed had they shown their faces anywhere in Indigo. In our desire for peace and our willingness to forget the war, well, it cost us dearly."
I started to feel a thread of unease; this couldn't be the end.
"Even though it had been nearly six years… apparently the Rockets didn't forget who they lost to."
The feeling of unease grew into a gnawing pit in my stomach.
"It was a year after Gary was born. I was at a conference in Goldenrod City when I got the call..."
I closed my eyes and waited.
"The Rockets attacked with a strong strike force. Both Red, my son, and his wife were killed in the attack. Thankfully, the strike seemed focused on my lab and our home. The only reason that Gary and Daisy were okay is because of my dear Ally. My Pokémon and the surviving members of Red's and Harrison's teams drove back and defeated most of the attacking force."
These words pained him greatly, and I could sense it.
We sat there for a while.
"I am truly sorry, Samuel."
I felt grief for people I had never met. These individuals had only been video game characters to me; now they were actual people who had lives and had died to protect their families.
"It gets easier. Daisy is old enough to remember her parents and still has nightmares about that day. Gary wants to know more about his parents all the time; I've tried my best, but it's hard to talk about them. Daisy cannot wait to leave Pallet. I know she wants to be a researcher, but I also know she won't come back here if she can help it. I expect she'll run off to Hoenn next year and won't look back."
"It's often difficult, but I wouldn't trade it for anything."
As I opened my eyes, I saw that he was beginning to pull himself out of that well of sadness.
"Samuel, you don't have to do it alone. There are people who will be there for you," I said with a sad smile.
Oak seemed to shake himself off for a moment.
"Thank you, Isaac. I needed to express some of that," he muttered, a thoughtful look crossing his face.
[Time Skip]
After my talk with Professor Oak, I settled down and contemplated my next steps regarding Team Rocket. The information needed to be shared, but after learning that Red and Blue had been killed in an assassination, I knew I had to approach it carefully. I wouldn't wait too long; Oak had entrusted me with the details, and the least I could do was involve him completely, especially concerning Mewtwo and New Island.
Giovanni was the current Gym Leader of Viridian City, wielding considerable influence in the region as a whole. I had to be very cautious in my approach.
But enough of that.
Oak allowed me to go fishing in a nearby river so Merlin could gain some experience in battling the local Pokémon even if it was probably just going against some Magikarp…
[Time skip]
I sat on a riverbank about three miles away from Oak's ranch, enjoying the summer breeze as my line dangled in the water. Merlin floated nearby, reading a book on physics and matter while waiting for me to pull up another Magikarp. So far, I have only caught two Magikarp so far. After a couple of Thunder Punches, they were done and out.
"How long do we have to do this?" Merlin muttered, flipping another page in thought.
I rolled my eyes. "Merlin, the longer and more experienced you get with your move pool, the easier everything will be once you evolve."
"Hmm, I suppose that makes sense, though I fail to see why Magikarp are worthy opponents," he replied.
"They're useful for practicing new moves."
After my discussion with Professor Oak, we started a training session with Ally, where Merlin ended up learning Protect, Calm Mind, and Swift. Some might point out that several of these moves are typically learned through TMs (Technical Machines). However, that's just game logic; in the real world, most moves can be learned if another Pokémon who knows the move tutors them. Ally was an exceptionally strong Alakazam and was more than willing to help, albeit for a price, but she quickly taught Merlin the intricate details of the mechanics behind the moves.
Setting my fishing pole aside for a moment, I quickly scanned Merlin with the Arc Phone, which revealed:
[Abra: The Psi Pokémon]
[This Abra knows the moves: Teleport, Thunder Punch, Thunder Wave, Rest, Protect, Calm Mind, and Swift. Egg Move: Power Trick]
[Ability: Synchronize. Hidden Ability: Magic Guard]
I was honestly surprised Merlin hadn't evolved after learning those moves! The only issue currently was that Merlin was still in his pre-evolution form, which meant he lacked endurance. He tired rather quickly, but he was a beast of an Abra!
This would allow him to learn even more moves. I needed to ask Oak if there were any skilled Pokémon in the corral that we could battle against. The next move Merlin was going to learn was Telekinesis, which would help him work on control and endurance. I had a feeling he would be evolving sooner rather than later.
Hopefully, I can teach him all the moves before he evolves. That left three moves on the training plan: Sleep Talk, Shadow Ball, and Psychic. I think we could manage it before he finally upgrades.
Just then, something tugged on my line.
"Merlin, get ready for another!" I called out.
Lowering his book with a mental command, Merlin floated over. "I suppose I must."
Grabbing my fishing pole, I prepared to set the hook, watching closely as the line pulled tighter and tighter.
With all the strength of a 10-year-old, I pulled! It felt like I had hooked something huge—almost as heavy as a rock at the other end.
"Merlin, get ready! I've hooked something big!"
"I would imagine that a Magikarp would be large, considering your size, trainer," he retorted, rolling his eyes.
I twitched, sending him a fierce glare.
"This is serious fighting!"
The line was going crazy! After a minute, I could tell I was close to reeling it in.
With a mighty pull, a red blur shot out of the water! I dropped my fishing pole. "Stand guard, Merlin!" I shouted with excitement.
"Yes, trainer…"
"Wait a second, Merlin." I squinted at the Magikarp.
This was one gigantic Magikarp! It looked to be more than twice the size of any I had ever seen or fished out!
There was something odd about it; no Magikarp should be that big.
"Make sure it doesn't go back into the river, Merlin. I want to scan it with the Arc Phone."
With a sigh, he replied, "Yes, Trainer."
I twitched again. This guy...
Anyway, I pulled out my Arc Phone and scanned the Magikarp, which I had forgotten to do with the others I caught earlier…
[Pokémon Detected!]
[Magikarp: Pokédex Entry Unlocked!]
[Magikarp: The Fish Pokémon]
[This Pokémon is said to be the world's weakest Pokémon. No one knows why it has managed to survive.]
[This Magikarp knows the moves: Splash, Tackle, and Flail. Egg move: Thunderbolt (locked)]
[Ability: Swift Swim. Hidden Ability: Rattled]
[Mission Update: Pokémon Found 51/?]
[Alert! King Gene Detected!]
Huh? I didn't think Magikarp could have egg moves. Clicking on the last message that popped up, I read:
[Alert! King Gene Detected!]
[King Gene: An extremely rare genetic phenomenon that causes the Pokémon in question to be double, or in some recorded cases, triple the size of the average for their kind. The chances of a King appearing are 8,192 to 1. These Pokémon are the stuff of legends, known in ancient Sinnoh as Alphas.]
[This Magikarp is 2 times the average size of its species.]
…Well, damn.
Alphas from Legends Arceus? I guess I do have an Arc Phone, but still! What the heck?!
"Merlin, stand guard. I'm going to talk to our not-so-little friend here." I said, slowly pulling out another Pokéball that I may have taken from Oak's lab…
As I got closer to the Magikarp, it began to look around and spotted me.
"Well, hello there."
"I know I'm the one who brought you out of your home, but I wonder if I could talk to you for a minute."
Here I was, talking to a freaking fish…
The Magikarp seemed still for a moment before slowly nodding its head. But then again, it could have just been flailing…
"I plan on being a strong Pokémon trainer, and I want a powerful team!" I exclaimed with fire in my eyes.
Magikarp watched intently.
"I believe together we can make you one of the mightiest Gyarados to ever live—a king of the oceans!"
Magikarp's visible eye widened considerably.
"So, what do you think about becoming my Pokémon?" I asked, holding out a Pokéball.
"Magikarp! Magikarp!" It seemed to enthusiastically agree, nodding up and down.
I smiled victoriously as I pressed the Pokéball to Magikarp. It clicked almost immediately, signaling a successful capture.
I stood up, fist in the air!
"YES! I GOT MY GYARADOS, HAHAHAH!"
"You still have to get past Professor Oak, trainer…"
I twitched; I seemed to be doing that frequently lately.
How angry could Professor Oak really get? I hadn't even faced the punishment for catching Merlin yet…
A.N.: It's wild that there are actual people reading this. I honestly didn't think it would happen at any point. I would love to hear any comments from all of you—both good and bad. I think I will start responding to reviews and going further.
Panospitch: Thanks for the review! As this is my first time writing outside an academic setting, I hope you'll see improvement chapter by chapter.
Pratikchakraborty911: Thanks for the review! The future team is still up in the air. I have a growing list of confirmed members so far: Alakazam and Gyarados. If you read the summary, you'll probably find another hint. Mega-evolution will be one of the main focuses of this fic, but the MC will also catch members that can't Mega-evolve. Why did he forget to mention? Kids tend to forget things; he may have been 25 in the last life, but he's 10 again.
The unknown23: Thanks for the review! I'm just glad my effort isn't completely trash. The main purpose of this fic is to keep me busy and sharp for my academic writing, so you can expect it to continue for a while.
VincentFS: Thanks, I guess? I would love to hear what you think is so bad, as I'm new to narrative and story writing. Any helpful comments would be greatly appreciated!