Disclaimer: I do not own anything, I make no money or profit from this.
Chapter 3: Meet My Partner
DREAM
A 11 year old Lincoln was curled up in a ball. Around him were 4 Rocket grunts punching and kicking him. They were shouting and insulting him while beating him. Once they finished, one of them released a Slowpoke out of a pokeball. He gave it an order before leaving, Slowpoke then started using Heal Pulse on the boy. All his visible wounds and injuries were healed. However the pain from such things still was there, giving the boy phantom pains. All he could do was whimper and stay curled up until the pain went away and he could move again.
DREAM END
Lincoln was awoken by the sound of knocking. "Lincoln, breakfast is ready," a feminine voice said after the knocking stopped. He then heard them walk away. Sitting up, he saw he was in his old bedroom back home.
"I guess it wasn't a dream" he muttered to himself. Looking around, he felt pain in his hand. "Oh right, that means that was real too." He sat on the edge of the bed, his body and bed was damp because of sweat. It was rare for him not to wake up covered in sweat, that's why he slept in only his boxers. "I guess I have a lot more to explain," he muttered before getting out of bed. He looked through his old clothes for something to wear. Unfortunately he grew a bit in the last 2 years, so none of them fit right. Seeing no other option, he put back on his dirty Rocket uniform. Before going to breakfast, he took a look at his broken mirror. "I should tell them about that, I guess," he said before heading downstairs.
He walked in the dining room to see his family already eating. He gave a small smile and took the only empty seat. "Good morning Lincoln" his mother greeted him as he sat down, the rest joined in after
"Morning," he replied casually. He just picked up the utensils to eat when the entire family let out a large gasp.
"Bro! What happened to your hand?" Luna screamed out first.
Lincoln looked confused, before realizing what she was talking about. "Oh this?" He asked, lifting up the injured hand. "I cut it by breaking the mirror yesterday from my little episode," he said as if it wasn't a big deal. "It's nothing big or deep, it'll heal in a couple of weeks."
The family stared at him stunned. He had a freak out yesterday, broke a mirror, and injured himself, but acted like it was a normal thing. Soon they started running around grabbing many things, leaving their breakfast. Soon they were all around him, fussing over him and the injury. They removed the ripped shirt, got it properly cleaned, applied cream, and wrapped it up with proper bandages. Lincoln meanwhile was annoyed the whole time, he just wanted to eat.
"There, now why didn't you tell us yesterday?" Rita asked in a scolding tone.
"Because I thought everything was a dream" he retorted, letting his annoyance show.
"Why would you think yesterday was a dream?" Luan asked him confused. "You can't can't feel pain in dreams."
"That's not true" he replied, tone not changing. "I've had plenty of dreams where I felt pain and did not wake up. Over time you just get used to it." He then noticed the worried looks of his family faces, he took a breath to calm down. "I'm sorry, I'm just…" he didn't know what to say. "...it's…a lot happened over there and…" he let out a growl of frustration. "I'm sorry, okay?" He said with a frown. "Look, we're going to continue our talk from yesterday right?" He asked, looking at his parents. They nodded, albeit hesitantly. "After I eat, we can continue and maybe I'll find the words I need."
They were unsure, but they did want to know more. How the sweet caring boy they knew, became this mysterious person. So they all agreed and went back to their breakfast. However, the joyous atmosphere that was once there was replaced with one of worry.
Once they finished and dishes were clean, they gathered back in the living room in the same spots they were in yesterday. "Okay, so you know I work for basically the mafia of that world" Lincoln started, gathering his thoughts. "I moved up in the organization and was a high ranking member, so ask any questions you want and I try to answer them."
The family looked at each other, not sure what to ask. They wanted answers, but didn't want to see another freak out like yesterday. How he acted and talked, it unsettled them. It was like it was a different person that looked like their brother/son. "Son, you told us you couldn't go to the police…" Lynn Sr. started, with a nervous tone. "...but wasn't there anyone you could've gone to for help?"
"The only other people I could've gone to was the league," the boy replied sadly. "But I doubt that would've helped."
"League?" Lynn Jr. asked, interested in that.
"Why couldn't you go to this league?" Rita asked, confused by what he was saying.
Lincoln was about to answer, but remember he didn't tell them something. "Right, before I answer that I need to tell you something about that world" he said with a bashful chuckle. "There was one major difference between that world and ours, they had creatures called Pokemon." He then explained what Pokemon were. How people and Pokemon lived in harmony with one another. What he knew about Pokemon trainers, the Pokemon League, the Gym Challenge, and Pokemon battles. He explained what he knew about Pokemon and why they battle. He also told them that's how he moved up in the organization. Turns out he was a natural at handling and training Pokemon. He would train stolen Pokemon enough so any member could use them without problems. He also told them how the league worked with the government and police involving Pokemon.
The family couldn't believe what they were just told. That world treated animal fighting as a professional sport. Not only that, but some of them sounded extremely dangerous. Somehow Lincoln was able to train such creatures and used them for villainous acts. This was how he moved up in the evil organization.
"Now that you know that" Lincoln said as he was ready to answer his mother's question. "I couldn't go to the league, because the boss is a gym leader himself."
This got a round of gasps from the family. "Wait, so you're telling us…the big boss of a crime organization…" Lynn Jr. started in shock. "...is also one of those gym leaders in the league?!"
"Yes," he replied with a sad sigh. "Back when I was a grunt, I overheard some other grunts. They let it slip that the boss was the leader of the Viridian City Gym. So if I went to the league, they would still find out and I would be as good as dead."
"But he is literally just one person, how would he find out?" Lori asked, confused.
"It's not just him that's in the league" he replied, his voice being filled with dread. "After I became an Elite Officer, I got access to classified information. I learned that Team Rocket has spies in every gym in Kanto and in the league organization. Now only that, but some in Johto and other regions as well. Their main operations are in Kanto, but they are slowly expanding to other regions. Simply put, I had almost nowhere to run. If I did go somewhere else, there's still the chance they would find me."
Lincoln put his head in his hands in defeat. His family could only look at him sadly and depressed. What could one of them say after that? He basically told them he had no one who could help, nowhere to run, and no choice but to stay and become a criminal. They still don't even know what kinds of things he did while with Team Rocket.
"Do you have any of them with you?" Lana asked in a quiet and shaky voice. The entire family looked at her, Lincoln included, with a questionable gaze. "Pokemon I mean, do you have any of them with you?"
Lincoln stared at her, before he remembered the 10 he had on his belt. "That's right, I got you guys with me" he said to himself, touching his belt. His family looked at him quizzically. "I guess I still need to feed you."
"So you do?!" Lana asked excitedly. "Can you show us them?"
"Yeah, I have ten on me" he replied, paying attention back to his family. "I have a Muk, Zoroark, Liepard, Sharpedo, Mawile, Mightyena, Houndoom, Sneasel, Umbreon, and Crobat. However, only three will actually listen to me. The rest will only not attack me when I feed them, they are stolen Pokemon after all." This got shouts of disbelief, shock, and confusion from his family. "Yeah, Team Rocket stole all of them. Despite the world being full of them, they steal trainer's Pokemon because they are already trained to be strong. The only problem is getting them to listen to us, that's where I come in. I can convince them to listen to any Rocket members."
"Why through bro?" Luna asked worryingly. "Why get them to listen to the bad dudes and why do they listen to you?"
"They listen to me because we're the same" he started in a sad tone. "We all were kidnapped by Team Rocket and forced to work for them. If we don't, they'll dispose of us. That's why I try to convince them. I've seen what they did to Pokemon who wouldn't listen, I've…done that job. I hated seeing such amazing creatures end up like that." He shuddered at those memories.
The family worries only increase after that. They wanted to know more, but his comment and behavior just now scared them. "I guess I could show you those three" Lincoln suddenly said, snapping them out of their thoughts. "Mawile, Crobat, and Umbreon won't cause trouble." Before anyone could protest, Lincoln stood up and took three of the balls off his belt. He expanded them and gave them a little toss in the air.
A large purple bat with 4 wings came out of one. A small yellow and black bipedal creature with a venus fly-trap appendage came from another. The last was a black fox with yellow circles and rings on its ears and tail. Umbreon looked around before glaring at the Elite Officer.
"Everyone, these are-" this was all he got to say, before getting a Headbutt to the face. Lincoln stumbled and fell on his butt, with his nose bleeding. "You little shit!" He growled, glaring at the Moonlight Pokemon. His family rushed to side, worrying over him. His parents chose to ignore his foul language.
Umbreon growled at him ready for another attack, when he was grabbed by Mawile. Her venus fly-trap grabbed a hold of him. "Don't try it!" Mawile told him with a growl.
"Bitch" Umbreon growled, trying to free himself. Crobat perched on the back of the chair, watching the scene.
"Alright, I get it," Lincoln said with a frustrated sigh. He returned Umbreon back to his pokeball and put it back on his belt. "He only likes to be let out to eat or for battles. I didn't think he would've headbutted me." His parents started to try to stop his bloody nose, while his sisters fussed over him. Mawile tried to get closer to Lincoln, but was blocked by his older sisters. "It's alright, she won't hurt me" he said, trying to convince them to let her through. "She's basically my partner, she's the only Pokemon that won't hurt me."
They were hesitant to let the Deceiver Pokemon by, but did so because of their brother. "Are you okay?" She asked worryingly. While Lincoln could understand her, it sounded like nonsense to everyone else.
"Yeah I'm fine, just a bloody nose," Lincoln told her with a friendly smile. "I got a lot worse from some of the others I trained. Thanks for stopping him."
"I was glad to help!" Mawile said happily, before hugging him.
He returned the hug before getting back to his feet. "Now, this is Mawile," he gestured to said Pokemon. "That's Crobat and Umbreon was the one who Headbutt me" he continued pointing to the purple bat. Lana tried to get closer to Mawile, but was held back by her parents. "Mawile is okay, Crobat I can't say. However I can promise that he won't attack anyone."
Crobat just scoffed at the white hair Rocket member, but did nothing. Trusting their son's word, they let Lana go to Mawile. Said Pokemon was friendly and interacted with kindness. The rest of the family started to join in, with Lucy getting a better look at Crobat. Crobat simply stared at the little goth.
"Excuse me brother," Lisa said, getting Lincoln's attention. "Would you be willing to let me study these Pokemon? These creatures are something we have never seen before. If I could study-" that was as far as she got.
Lincoln held his open hand to her, telling her to stop. He wore a stern and serious expression. "Sorry Lisa, but my answer is no" his voice matched his expression. "Mawile, Crobat, and Umbreon are the only ones who listen to me. I know they don't want to be test subjects. As for the others, I have them just barely listening to me. Trying anything with them will end with someone getting hurt."
The family was taken aback by his current expression and tone. They had never seen either before, and were slightly scared by them. Mawile looked at him sadly, while Crobat looked at him with respect. "So what do they eat?" Lana asks her brother, hoping to change the atmosphere. "You said you need to feed them, so what do they eat?"
Lincoln's features went back to normal and he started to think. "Well they're supposed to eat meals made of berries from the other world" he started. "However Team Rocket didn't care about that and fed them food close to our world's dog and cat food. It wasn't nutritious and tasted disgusting. So I feed them that and food scraps I could get. It still wasn't good for them, but it tastes better."
"Could I help you feed them?" Lana pleaded. "I can help you make the food taste better for them."
"I don't know Lana," he answered with an unsure expression. "The others aren't as trusting of others. The last thing I want is you to get hurt." Lana then clung to him and was bagging with puppy dog eyes. "I think about it," he finally said, looking away from her. Mawile giggled at the scene, while Crobat scoffed at him.
"We kind of got off track of what we were talking about," Lincoln told his family with a chuckle. They then realized what he said was true. "Look I know you want to know more about what happened over there. However, I think it's better if you don't know. I did a lot of bad things over there." He then hugged himself and looked down in depression. "I did things I can't take back. I saw things I can never forget. I had to change and adapt to survive over there, and I rather act like it never happened. I still might have my episodes like yesterday, but I'm sure they'll stop in time."
The parents looked at each other worryingly. While they wanted to know more, what their son just said worried them. "Okay son, we'll trust you" Lynn Sr. said with a conflicted expression. "However should these episodes continue, we will be getting professional help" Rita told him sternly.
"I understand," Lincoln agreed as a mutter. He was a little annoyed at hearing about getting professional help, but chose to not voice it. "Now I'm going to go clean up the broken mirror," he said, turning to head to his room. "Mawile won't cause any problems and Crobat will go somewhere to be by himself. After that, I'll find something to feed them and the rest of the Pokemon I have." Lynn Jr., Luna, Lori, and Rita joined him to help. Lana and Lucy stay with Mawile and Crobat, trying to bond with them. While the rest of the family went to do their own thing.
