In the human word
The next day before classes started, Mark, Will, Alex and Jack met near the football field.
Alex: - Remember, today, we are going to show the video of Kenny and Ben as Pokémon.
Mark: - I hope this will make others believe us and trust that Ace has not left the team for another team.
Jack: - Come on, Mark. Have some faith in the team.
Will: - Yeah. Without Ace and Kenny, this team would not have won the high school football championships 2 years in a row. They should remember that after seeing the video.
Alex: - Right. So, we meet here before we go to practice this afternoon.
Jack: - Wait a sec, Alex. If Devon gets to practice before us. He might just say we edited the video to fool the team, knowing the team will trust him after what happened yesterday at practice. So, we should have a plan before we show the video.
Just then the bell rings
Mark: - I guess we can make the plan during lunch
Alex: - Right. So, we'll meet near the parking lot, so Devon does not see us and think we're planning something.
Will: - Alex, you seem to be worried that Devon will find out about our plan since you used a lot of so-.
Alex: - Oh, put a sock in it, Will
Will: - Sheesh, Alex, you don't have to get worked up about it
Alex does not answer and walks inside the school
Jack put his hand on Will's shoulder
Jack: - it might be better if we let Alex be till lunch
Will: - sigh I guess you're right, Jack
The rest of them walked in and went their way to class. Will was still worried about Alex, so he kept his eye on him
When it was lunch time. Will saw Alex talking to Devon outside the lunchroom.
Will: - (I must go tell Jack and Mark about this)
Will goes to find Jack and Mark inside the lunchroom.
Will: - Jack, Mark, you will not believe what I saw outside the lunchroom.
Jack: - What is it?
Mark: - Should we wait for Alex before you tell us?
Just then Sally walked over to them
Sally: - Did you guys see that Alex was talking to Devon outside the café?
Will: - Come on, Sally. I was about to tell them.
Sally: - Sorry, Will, but I thought it would be a good idea to tell you guys about it.
Jack: - But why would Alex want to talk to Devon of all people after what happened yesterday?
Mark: - You don't think Alex is helping Devon out and just pretending to work with us, do you.
Sally: - But Alex was with you guys when Devon was giving his speech about how Ace was a bad captain of the football team.
Will: - Yeah, but this morning, he was mad at me for being a bit rude to him, so I hope he's not asking Devon to give me a punishment of doing 100 laps around the football field.
Sally: - Speaking of which, where are Kenny and Ben? I thought they might be here with you guys.
Will, Mark, and Jack looked at each other
Sally: - Are you guys going to say anything?
Jack: - Well Sally...
Will: - Kenny and Ben...
Sally: - Kenny and Ben what?
Mark: - They've been turned into pokémon and have been taken to the Pokémon world by the same Mew who took Ace.
A tray of food was dropped on the ground, and everyone looked in the direction of the sound.
Sally: - Oh no.
Will: - Who was that?
Jack: - Kenny is going to hate us for telling her this.
Mark: - …
All of them saw it was Kenny's girlfriend who dropped the tray.
Violet: - K-K-K... Kenny is gone?
Jack: - Kenny is not gone Vi.
Violet: - DON'T LIE TO ME, JACK! ONLY KENNY IS ALLOWED TO CALL ME VI!
Sally went over to Violet and gave her a hug as she was crying and looked at the other.
Sally: - I think you guys should go while I try to calm down Vi here.
Jack, Will, and Mark left the lunchroom and went to the parking lot
Mark: - Now what?
Jack: - Should we make the plan and not tell Alex about it?
Just then Alex showed up
Will: - Look. The traitor showed up.
Alex: - What the heck, Will?
Will: - You were talking with Devon.
Jack: - Yeah. So why should we trust you?
Alex: - facepalm. You guys.
Will: - What?
Alex: - I was talking to Devon about his plans for the football team.
Jack: - Will? Care to explain?
Mark: - Did you really think Alex would ditch us for Devon?
Will: - You know, both of you believed me when I told you about Alex talking to Devon
Jack: - Alright, you got us, Will
Mark: - Since we are all here, should we plan our move on showing the team the video of Ben and Kenny as pokémon?
Alex: - Well, phase 1 of my plan went well.
Jack: - Wait, talking to Devon was part of your plan?
Alex: - Yup, that's right
Will: - Well, care to enlighten us on the rest of your plan, Alex?
Alex: - Well, before football practice, I will try to get him into trouble
Jack: - That is a dumb plan, Alex
Alex: - Oh come on now. It took me an hour to think about it
Mark: - Have you thought about how you would show the video to everyone?
Alex: - I didn't think that far ahead
Jack: - Well, I did think of a way
Will: - What is it?
Jack: - I thought of 2 ways. You can tell me which one you like better. 1. Alex shares the video with just us, then we each show the video to the others in smaller groups. 2. Alex shares the video individually with everyone else except for Devon.
Alex: - How would those plans work?
Jack: - With everyone watching by themselves, if Devon tries to convince everyone that the video was faked, everyone would be able to quickly point out certain key parts of the video that would prove him wrong.
Mark: - If that's the case, I'd say Alex should send the video to everyone individually.
Will: - I agree
Alex: - Alright then. I'll get working on that with what remaining break time we have.
Jack: - Thank you
Alex starts sending the video he took of Kenny and Ben as pokémon to everyone in private messages, except Devon
After school, what currently remains of the football team heads out to the field. Some of them notice that they received a message from Alex and decide to read it. Those who see it see that it's a video of several other teammates... with pokémon? Some of them get confused as to why there were pokémon in the video, until they hear the pokémon talking and sounding like more of their teammates.
Devon comes out to the field, having finished a detention session he accumulated during the day, and sees that now everyone is on their phones for a reason unknown to him.
Devon: - What are you all doing?! Just because I wasn't here doesn't mean you can get out of doing our warm-ups! Get the hell off your phones and do your starting laps!
Nobody listens to Devon, and instead they discuss the video they just watched with each other.
Devon: - Now pissed, grabs a megaphone. I said: GET OFF YOUR DAMN PHONES AND RUN!
Presh: - Devon, have you seen this video yet?
Devon: - I don't care about the video. Get running.
Presh: - It's about Kenny and Ben.
Devon: - Wait, what?
Presh: - Walks up to Devon and shows him the video. Look at this
Devon watches the video. Sees that Ben has been turned into a Pikachu and Kenny into a Meowstic.
Devon: - Well, it seems we have some expert artists on our team.
Presh: - Artists?
Devon: - Or modelers, whatever you call them. They did a good job.
Presh: - This looks too realistic to have been drawn
Devon: - Then they are wearing good costumes
Presh: - With that level of detail?
Devon: - They managed to find a costume designer that can make one-to-one replicas of the real pokémon.
Presh: - How can Ben and Kenny be in those if they were one-to-one costumes? Both of them are way taller than the actual pokémon those are supposedly costumes of.
Devon: - Tight fit, I guess.
Presh: - Then explain their reactions to being touched on their tails and ears, and how they flick them in response.
Devon: - Looks at the instances of the other teammates rubbing their hands on Ben's and Kenny's ears and tails, and he starts to sweat with a nervous look. Ehehe, they have sensors and poles in those appendages?
Presh: - Devon, why are Ben and Kenny not here with us?
Devon: - They were catching up on sleep?
Presh: - You can't explain this, can you.
Devon: - OF COURSE I CAN!
Everyone turned in Devon's direction
Jason: - Then say it. Why were four of our teammates talking to pokémon?
Devon: - AR?
Patrick: - Then how were they able to interact with the pokémon?
Devon: - Perfectly synced?
Jon: - Where are Kenny and Ben?
Devon: - Home asleep.
Everyone: - All looked at each other, then back at Devon, and shouted: WHAT REALLY HAPPENED TO ACE?!
Devon: - Snaps. I DON'T ACTUALLY KNOW!
Presh: - If you didn't know, why did you tell us he abandoned us for being weak?
Devon: - CAUSE YOU ALL ARE USELESS!
Coach: - I think that's enough... grabs Devon's shoulder …Devon!
Devon: - Turns to see it's the coach and goes pale
Coach: - You are relieved of the position of captain...
Devon has a shocked expression.
Coach: - ...and are no longer the vice-captain.
Devon's jaw drops further. Nearly blows his cover from his face accidentally changing, resembling the shape of a Mew's face. Luckily for him, no one saw it.
Devon: - Looks down and sees his face changed, and so he shakes his head, and it reverts back to a human face. Who will fill the roles if I'm neither?
Coach: - Since Alex seems to be way more on top of knowing how the rest of the team is doing, he will be the new captain. As for vice-captain, that will go to Will. Now, since Ace was also the quarterback, and Kenny has also disappeared, Jon will be the new quarterback.
Alex, Will, and Jon: - We won't let you down, Coach.
Coach: - Alex
Alex: - Yes
Coach: - As your first task, I would like to answer something
Alex: - And that is...
Coach: - What really happened to Ace, Kenny, and Ben?
Alex: - I wasn't there when Ace vanished, but Kenny was, and he said that a Mew took him to the Pokémon world. I was there when Kenny and Ben left, and they were also taken to the Pokémon world, by the same Mew from what I understand from Kenny's reaction to seeing it. I have 3 other witnesses that can back up what I'm saying.
Coach: - And those are...
Alex: - Jack, Mark, and Will
Jack, Mark, and Will: - It's true. We all saw it.
Coach: - Hmm, I see. Well, we can talk more about this after practice. For now, I will take Devon to the principal's office.
Alex: - Alright, coach.
Alex: - faces the team
Presh: - Alex, we are sorry for not trusting you guys earlier about Ace. Can you forgive us?
Alex: - I can, but if Ace was here, he might be mad at you guys
Jon: - We know but, what should we do? Homecoming game is in 4 days.
Alex: - Right now, I don't have an idea at the moment. So for now, you guys do your warm ups, starting with 10 laps around the field.
The team: - Alright
Alex: - Claps once Go!
Everyone besides Alex and Will started running their laps
Will: - Is everything ok, Alex?
Alex: - Not really, Will. I'm just not sure if I can be as good as Ace when it comes to managing the team and getting them ready for a big game like this.
Will: - Come on now, Alex. Without you, none of us would have stopped Devon from making the whole team hate Ace and no longer trusting him if he came back.
Alex: - Hehe, thanks Will, but without Ace and Kenny here, I don't know if I can get the team ready for homecoming.
Will: - You can manage the team your own way. You don't need to do the same things Ace and Kenny do.
Alex: - Thanks Will. We should probably get to our runs now.
Will: - Right
Alex and Will start their 10 laps. Once everyone finishes running, they proceed to the rest of their warm ups.
Alex: - That was good everyone. Take 5, then find pairs to practice throws and receives.
The team: - Nods in compliance
After their break, the team gets to work on their drills.
Meanwhile, in the principal's office.
Principal Woodlock: - So, care to explain the lies and gossip you've been spreading throughout the football team?
Devon: - I was just jealous of Ace getting the spotlight all the time. He doesn't have to be the top person all the time. Why is he loved by everyone when I am just as good, if not better, than him at football and academics?
Principal Woodlock: - Do you want to revise that last part?
Devon: - What?
Principal Woodlock: - I know I shouldn't be doing this, but… Swivels his monitor so Devon can see …you're slacking far behind Ace, as well as several other students running for valedictorian, and should I even start on your running for class president.
Devon: - sits back looking defeated
Principal Woodlock: - Sigh Valedictorian, I don't have much control over cause that's all you, but for class president, because of the lies you spread about Ace, Kenny, and Ben, all the votes you receive will be cut in half. Stay on my good side and I might be willing to give some voting weight back. Do I make myself clear?
Devon: - still looking defeated, looks Principal Woodlock in the eyes Crystal.
Principal Woodlock: - Good. You are dismissed.
Devon: - Thank you Walks away (You're lucky I can't use my power on you just yet. I still need more time for my plan to work.)
As Devon walked back out to the field
Devon: - (Alex, Will, Mark, Jack, you guys are lucky I did not use my power to make you guys obey me yet)
Everyone on the team looked at Devon as he walked by
Devon: - What are you looking at me for!
Alex: - We're still mad at you for attempting to turn the whole football team against Ace.
Will: - Ace cared about everyone.
Devon: - Ya ya, whatever Willy and Sandra
Alex and Will: - Why you!
Presh and Jon stopped Alex and Will before they got into a fight with Devon
Devon: - Oh, I'm so scared. Ha ha ha ha
Alex: - Presh, let me go so I take this guy down a notch
Presh: - No, Alex. If you get into a fight now, you will not go to the game and you will not be able to go to the homecoming dance the day after.
Will: - Jon, let me go. I'll show Devon not to call me Willy ever again.
Jon: - If you do that, you'll have the same fate as Alex. Don't.
Alex and Will stop struggling, and Presh and Jon release them from their grips.
Alex: - Let's get back to practicing. We're doing blocks now. Let's go, that means you too, Devon.
Devon: - scoffs and heads to the others
The team continues working on their blocks
After practice, Alex, Jack, Mark, and Will decide to head to the Rogers' house to tell them that Ben has now disappeared as well as Kenny
They arrive at the house
Alex: - Here we go
Jack: - Knocks on the door
Mr. Rogers: - Yes? Oh, it's you four. Come in. Invites them in
Will: - Thank you.
Everyone sits in the living room, where Mrs. Rogers is sitting
Mrs. Rogers: - Sees the group Oh, hello boys. Do you need anything?
Alex: - We need to tell you something.
Mrs. Rogers: - Oh, and what is that? Proceeds to take a sip of water
Alex: - Well…Ben and Kenny are now gone.
Mrs. Rogers: - Does a spit-take aimed at Mr. Rogers' face
Mr. Rogers: - Side eyes his wife Thanks for that, honey. Appreciate it. Grabs a towel and wipes his face Well, we should probably call Kenny's parents over and explain to them the situation.
Alex: - Why do they need to be here?
Mrs. Rogers: - Because there's something we've been keeping from you that you should know.
Will: - And what is that?
Mr. Rogers: - We'll explain when Kenny's parents arrive.
Will: - Ok.
After some time had passed, Kenny's parents arrived.
Mr. Adams: - So what's this about Kenny disappearing?
Mrs. Adams: - Where is our son?
Mr. Rogers: - Come in, and I will explain.
Everyone gathers in the living room, and sit
Mr. Rogers: - So as we all know, Ace, Ben, and Kenny disappeared.
Mr. Adams: - That is what you told us, and we did watch the news from the first incident.
Mr. Rogers: - Ok. Well, two of our kids are not actually our kids.
Everyone except the Rogers: - Gasp
Mr. Adams: - Which kids are not ours?
Mrs. Rogers: - Our kids. Ace and Ben are not our real children.
Alex: - So what are they then?
Mr. and Mrs. Rogers: - They are pokémon
Everyone else: - What?!
Jack: - So what we saw Ben turn into, that's what he actually looks like?
Mrs. Rogers: - Wait, you saw Ben change?
Will: - And Kenny. They both turned into pokémon in front of us.
Mrs. Rogers: - Was there a pokémon that looked like a white cat floating in the room?
Alex: - Yes. Kenny recognised him as a Mew named Nathan.
Mrs. Rogers: - He returned.
Alex: - You've seen him before?
Mr. Rogers: - He was the one who gave us Ace and Ben.
Mrs. Rogers: - When Nathan showed them to us, he told us that Ace was a pokémon called a Yamper, and Ben was known as a Pichu.
Jack: - Well, Ben changed into a Pikachu before Nathan took him and Kenny away
Mrs. Rogers: - Nathan told us that that would likely happen. Their pokémon selves must've evolved at some point during their time here.
Jack: - Evolved, like in the games?
Mr. Rogers: - Yes. Ace would likely be a Boltund by now.
Alex: - And that happened. Kenny told us that Ace was turned into a Boltund before he was taken away by Nathan.
Mr. Rogers: - So it did happen, ok.
Mrs. Adams: - But what about Kenny?
Mr. Rogers: - He is your real son.
Mrs. Adams: - I mean what did he turn into?
Alex: - He turned into a male Meowstic.
Mr. Adams: - I see.
Alex: - After that happened yesterday, today, Devon tried to turn everyone on the football team against them. He nearly succeeded with getting everyone against Ace, but we took a video of Ben and Kenny as pokémon, and everyone believed us, and are now back on Ace's side.
Mrs. Rogers: - Devon did that?
Will: - Yeah, why?
Mr. Rogers: - Devon is Nathan's brother.
Jack: - Devon is also a pokémon?
Mr. Rogers: - Yes. Nathan came back several years ago, while Ace and Ben were in school, and told us the situation between him and Devon.
Mrs. Adams: - Do you think Ben and my dear Kenny have found Ace by now?
Mrs. Rogers: - I'm sure they have. Do any of you have any more questions for us?
Will : - Why have you not told the police about this yet?
Mr. Rogers: - Because Nathan asked us not to tell anyone, and we didn't want any problems for Ace or Ben. But ever since they were with us, we treated them just like our other kid we had.
Mr. Adam: - Wait, you had your own kid before Ace and Ben?
Mrs. Rogers: - Yes. His name is Nick, and he's been living with his grandparents ever since we got Ace and Ben.
Mark: - So, Ace and Ben don't know about Nick?
Mr. Rogers: - They never met. Every time we had family gatherings, they were always with my parents, while Nick has been staying with my wife's parents.
Mrs. Rogers: - Speaking of which, dear, we should go to my parents and tell them about Ace and Ben. We can see our son, Nick, again after a while.
Mr. Rogers: - Alright then, but should we bring Mr. and Mrs. Adams, and Ace's friends with us?
Mrs. Rogers: - I don't see why not.
Mr. Rogers: - Alright, let's go then.
Mrs. Rogers: - Wait before we go. We ask that you keep this conversation between us. We do not want to risk people attacking or otherwise harming Ace, Ben, us, or you.
Everyone except the Rogers: - Right.
The Rogers and Ace's friends got into the Rogers' car and the Adams got into their car, and started driving to Mrs. Rogers parent's house.
After an hour drive
Mrs. Rogers: - Mom! Dad! It's been a while since I last saw you
Just then, Nick came out
Nick: - Mom! Dad! It's been a month since I last saw you guys.
Nick goes and hugs his parents
Mr. Rogers: - Hey champ. It has been a while. How are you doing? I hope you weren't causing any trouble for grandma and grandpa
Nick: - I've been doing well, dad, and no, I've been a good boy.
Mrs. Rogers: - Well that's good, darling, and how is school?
Nick: - It's been going well, mom, and I have a big game coming up next week, but when can I come home?
Mr. and Mrs. Rogers looked at each other
Alex: - (I feel bad for Nick right now. He doesn't know about Ace and Ben. On top of that, his own parents are not telling him that pokémon are living with them)
Mr. Rogers: - We'd love to bring you home, champ, but me and your mom are busy with work and are barely home most of the time.
Mrs. Rogers: - Yeah, Nick, but once we get more free time, I promise we will bring you home. Right now we both have to talk to grandma and grandpa about something.
Mr. Rogers: - Yeah, champ. So, we brought you some kids from school near our house and they are on a football team just like you.
Nick: - Really!? That's so cool, dad. Thank you so much
Mr. Rogers: - No problem, champ. Well, you have fun now.
So both the Adams family and Rogers family went inside to talk with Mrs. Rogers' parents. The teens were left outside to talk.
Nick: - Hi, my name is Nick, and yes, both of my parents are the richest people in this city.
Alex: - Just like Ace and Ben's parents
Nick: - You mean my parents, right? Who are Ace and Ben?
Jack: - Way to break the ice, Alex
Alex: - Oh right. Yeah, I mean your parents, Nick
Nick: - Ok, but who are Ace and Ben?
Alex: - Do any of you want to explain it?
Will: - No no, you broke the ice, you answer the question.
Alex: - Alright then Turns his attention back to Nick Ace and Ben are your brothers.
Nick: - Wait, what?
Mark: - Yup. You have an older brother and a younger brother.
Nick: - I'm the middle child? I thought I was an only child.
Alex: - Your parents never told you about them?
Nick: - No. I got sent here because my parents told me they had very long business trips with indefinite timeframes
Alex: - You should know the truth
Nick: - What truth? Where are my brothers?
Alex: - Well, they aren't here right now
Nick: - I can see that, clearly
Alex: - No, I mean they aren't in this world
Nick: - What is that supposed to mean?
Alex: - They are in another world
Nick: - Another world, that's ludicrous. How would you know?
Alex: - We saw it happen with Ben and Ace's best friend Kenny. Kenny also saw it with Ace
Nick: - But where did they go?
Alex: - They got turned into pokémon and went to the Pokémon world
Nick: - Why should I believe you? Where's your proof?
Alex: - Watch this. Pulls out his phone, and plays the video he recorded of Ben and Kenny as pokémon
Nick: - Ah yes. Very good editing skills. Now bring out the brothers, if they're real.
Alex: - Uh, what editing skills?
Nick: - In the video
Alex: - That's not edited
Will, Mark, and Jack each pull out their yearbooks and flip to different pages of Ace and Ben
Nick looks at the yearbooks and tears up
Nick: - Why are they pokémon now?
Alex: - Well, Kenny was actually the only one that 'turned into' a pokémon. Your brothers, Ace and Ben… hesitates for a moment …they are pokémon for real
Nick: - What?
Alex: - Your brothers…are not your real brothers. They were adopted from their pokémon mother, their real mother.
Nick races inside to his parents
Mr. Rogers: - Oh, Nick. How was-
Nick: - Why did you never tell me I had brothers who were really pokémon?!
Mr. Rogers: - I eh-, we-
Nick: - I HATE YOU! Runs to his room
Mr. Rogers: - Nick, wait-. Sighs
Alex: - Wow, I was not expecting that
Mr. Rogers: - What did you tell him?
Alex: - We told him about Ace and Ben
Mr. Rogers: - You did WHAT?!
Will: - When were you going to tell him?
Mr. Rogers: - I was waiting for the right moment
Jack: - Were you ever going to tell him?
Mr. Rogers: - Of course I wa-!
Mrs. Rogers: - We have not been completely honest with you.
Alex: - About what?
Mrs. Rogers: - We never had any intentions of telling anyone the truth about Ace and Ben. We swore to each other that we would keep their secret exclusively between us. We only told you because you found out.
Alex: - So you were just going to leave Nick here until the secrets were revealed?
Mrs. Rogers: - Sorry, but yes
Alex: - What do you think Nick thinks you were doing by leaving him here? He could've thought you abandoned him, even though you decided to still visit him from time to time.
Mrs. Rogers: - Yeah. We've been bad parents to them. All 3 of them. They should've known about each other, and been a complete family.
Will: - You should go talk to Nick
Mrs. Rogers: - We will
Mr. Rogers: - Move his wife's hand off of his mouth I will talk to him
Jack: - I'm not sure if he wants to talk to either of you, probably no one at all right now.
Mark: - Maybe we should be the ones to talk to Nick. We were the ones to break the ice about Ace and Ben to him
Mr. Rogers: - You can try if you think it'll work
Jack: - Thank you
The 4 of them go up to Nick's room
Alex: - Nick?
Nick: - Go away!
Will: - Your parents want to tell you more about your brothers. Please come down.
Nick: - I'm not going down there. Why should I believe them?
Jack: - Wow, he's just like Ben. Secluded and whiney
Nick: - I heard that.
Will: - You need to know the full truth
Nick: - I know that they never cared about me, since they got 2 pokémon to take care of.
Alex: - You seem to have forgotten that Ace and Ben are both in the Pokémon world. Your parents currently only have you.
Nick: - Opens his door slightly and talks through the crack I'm the only one they have right now?
Will: - Yes
Nick: - Grows a grinchy smile So now I can convince my parents that they were wrong to essentially throw me out. I can make them see that I'm the only one that matters.
Alex: - Don't even try. We already have Devon to worry about in that department
Nick: - Who's Devon?
Jack: - Way to go breaking another ice block, Alex
Alex: - Well at least I've been telling him more about the truth than his parents probably ever did
Nick: - Ok, now answer my question
Alex: - Devon, you could say, is Ace's rival in our school, but there's more to him than meets the eye
Nick: - What are you talking about? Is he also a pokémon?
Alex: - In short, yes. He is the brother of the pokémon that helped Ace and Ben's real mother bring your brothers to our world.
Nick: - Who were they?
Alex: - We don't know the specifics of their real mother, but the other pokémon is a Mew named Nathan.
Nick: - I can see now why mom and dad kept this from me.
Alex: - Now, could you go downstairs to your parents?
Nick: - opens the door. Ok then.
Will: - Nick, did your dad not say you were a football player?
Nick: - Yeah? What about it?
Will: - Well, you are the QB of your school football team. So who are you guys vs in the big game?
Nick: - Come in my room and I'll tell you.
The 4 went inside Nick's room and they were surprised to see that it was Nick's team that they are facing in the homecoming game
Alex: - We're going to be facing you guys
Nick: - Why do you say that?
Alex: - Because, from the team logo I saw on your gear, and the info coach told me about you guys.
Nick: - Well, I wish you best of luck then.
Alex: - Thank you, Nick, and I wish your team best of luck
Nick: - Thank you. I heard that my brother was the best QB for your team, and also the best team captain, but since he is gone, who is the team captain and QB?
Alex: - I am the captain and as for the QB, we have a backup who is as good as Ace.
Nick: - Well, as the captain of my team, I hope we have a fair game next week.
Alex: - You as well, Nick.
The boys continued talking more about football.
Meanwhile downstairs
Mr. Adams: - Well, that's good that your parents know everything, Lisa, but we must go now. I have a meeting in 2 hours and Lea is meeting some friends downtown.
Mr. Rogers: - Oh, ok then.
Mrs. Rogers: - Well, it was nice talking to you, James and Lea. I am also sorry that Kenny got pulled into this.
Mrs. Adams/Lea: - Thank you Lisa. but I know my Kenny always likes to help Ace, so I can understand.
Mr. Adams/James: - Well we better go now, Lea
Mrs. Adams/Lea: - Alright
The Adams couple left Mrs. Rogers' parents' house, but as they were leaving
Mr. Adams/James: - Lea, do you think we should have said something about our youngest being a pokemon?
Mrs. Adams/Lea: - Not yet, James, but I do worry about telling him that Kenny is in the pokemon world.
Mr. Adams/James: - Alright then.
They drove away
Meanwhile inside the house
Mr. Rogers/Jake: - Now I question if it was ok if we lied to them all about Ace and Ben?
Mrs. Rogers/Lisa: - No, Jake, but what about the pokemon we gave to your adoptive parents here? Should we tell them that our Ace and Ben are now in the Pokémon world, likely with that Boltund that gave us her kids, thinking they are her's?
Jake: - Maybe we should clear that up with them. They might wonder why our kids are gone, but her kids are still here.
Gordon: - If there are humans taking care of pokémon, you should let them know about when these events happen, cause, from what you're saying, it sounds like Nathan meant for that Boltund's kids to be the ones to return to the Pokémon world, rather than your kids.
Nick and the others come downstairs, and overhears Gordon's last sentence
Nick: - About what Boltund's kids?
Jake, Lisa, Gordon, and Lesley all turn to Nick
Jake: - Uh…we're talking about the video games
Alex: - Do you guys even play modern video games?
Jake: - Uh, that's my job. I'm a QA tester for Game Freak.
Nick: - Right, you are a QA tester, but don't you work for Nintendo of America, not Game Freak?
Jake: - Uh…you're somewhat right, Nick. I work for both
Will: - Wouldn't that be a direct conflict of interest?
Jake: - Sputters incoherent nonsense
Nick: - Dad? Are there pokémon in our world?
Jake tries to come up with something to throw Nick off, but fails.
Jake: - Sigh Yes, there are pokémon here.
Nick: - Where?
Jake: - Pulls out his phone, and opens Pokémon Go Right here. Shows Nick his Boltund and its "kids"
Nick: - Dad, I'm not an idiot. I can tell you're aware of actual pokémon that are here in our world.
Jake: - Errrr…sigh I can't hide it anymore. Yes, there are real pokémon here.
Nick: - And they are the kids of the Boltund you were talking about?
Jake: - It's more than just them.
Jack: - More?
Jake points a finger to himself
Nick, Alex, Jack, Mark, and Will all seem to understand what Jake's signal means, and are all shocked
All 5 of them: - YOU?!
Lisa, who has been listening to the whole conversation: - It's not just him. All 4 of us. Jake, myself, and my parents.
Nick: - My parents, and grandparents, are pokémon?!
Jake: - I think you missed one more that's in this room
Alex: - One more?
Jake looks at Nick with a serious look
Nick takes a minute to understand his father's face, and it soon hits him
Nick: - M-m-m-me? I'm a pokémon?
Jake nods in confirmation
Nick just stares blankly in disbelief
Mark: - So our team captain's whole family is made up of pokémon. But then, that would mean…has a realization…Nathan took your kids to the Pokémon world?
Jake: - He did
Nick: - I still can't believe that I'm a pokémon
Jake: - Well, you are. You were born a Pichu, and now are a Pikachu. You didn't catch it, but on your 10th birthday, your body gave off the glow pokémon have when evolving.
Nick: - Ok, now you're making less sense
Jake pulls a futuristic looking cube out of his other pocket, which opens into a holographic box after Jake presses a button on it.
Jake then steps inside the box, and turns it on.
The box shows what Jake really looks like without his human disguise illusion, which is an Alolan Raichu floating in place on his tail as if it were a hoverboard
Jake (Alolan Raichu): - This is what I really look like.
Nick: - My father is an Alolan Raichu?
Jake: - Yup Pulls Nick inside the box
Lisa: - Here you go Hands Jake a mirror to show Nick his reflection
Jake: Thank you Shows Nick his reflection
Nick: - Is shocked by what he sees in the mirror. I'm a Pikachu?
Alex: - Hey, you match Ben
Jake: - And when you evolve into a Raichu, you will look like me. You'll also be an Alolan Raichu.
Nick: - And you hid this from me this whole time? Starts getting mad at his parents
Jake: - I'm sorry, son, but I had to.
Nick: - You had to keep me from knowing my true self?
Jake: - Yes, cause your mother, her parents, my parents, and myself were attacked in the past
Nick: - Is that also your excuse for why I was here my entire life, never knowing my brothers?!
Jake: - Nick, I'm sorry. I just didn't want to risk us getting attacked again.
Nick: - Scoffs in disbelief Sure that's what you were worried about. Runs to his room, without realizing he ran at lightning speed, with a trail of black lightning behind him
Jake: - What have I done? Now Nick hates me for not telling him the truth sooner. If he hates me for this, I worry how Ace and Ben will react to me telling them the real truth.
Jack: - I'm more worried about what Nick just did.
Jake: - What do you mean?
Will: - Did you seriously miss that his lightning trail was black, instead of yellow?
Jake: - Wait, what? Black?
Alex: - Yup
Jake: - Ok, that's unusual. I've never heard of an electric type using electricity that looked like that. I've seen some have white lightning, but never black.
Jack: - I wonder why that happened
Alex, yelling upstairs: - Nick, could you come down here? We have something to ask you.
Nick storms downstairs just like how he stormed upstairs, leaving behind another black lightning trail
Nick: - Yeah? What is it? More secrets?
Will: - Why is your electricity, black?
Nick: - My electricity is what?
Alex: - Look behind you
Nick: - Turns around to see his black lightning before it dispels. Woah, why is it like that? Tries to have a little lightning bolt form in his hands, but this time it's the normal color. Huh, weird, and I thought that me being a pokémon was the strangest thing I learned today.
Jake: - Well, to make it up to you, we would like to take you home with us. Your room is currently empty, but you can take one of your brothers' rooms while we fix up your room.
Nick: - You know what, that doesn't sound so bad. I'll come back with you.
Jake: - Awesome, getting the family back together like we should've been from the start with you. But before we leave, you have to promise me that everything you've heard about us being pokémon doesn't get spoken of to ANYONE, except these 4 kids here. And that goes for you 4 too. None of this info is to be spoken with anyone beyond your little friend circle and/or any of us, and/or Ace, Ben, and Kenny if/when they return here.
All 5: - We promise.
Jake: - Thank you.
Nick: - Before we go, what pokémon are mom and my grandparents?
Lisa: - I'm a Boltund.
Lesley: - I'm also a Boltund.
Gordon: - I'm a Shiny Sylveon.
Nick: - Grandpa is a shiny? That's cool.
Lesley: - Glad to hear it.
Nick: - Ok, now let's go home.
Jake: - Sure
Jake, Lisa, and all the teens get into the Rogers' car, and they drive off.
During the car ride home…
Alex: - Hold on. When you told us about Ace and Ben not being pokémon, before we went over to Lisa's parents' house, you said Ace and Ben were not your real kids.
Jake: - That's because I was getting our kids mixed up with the pokémon kids that that other Boltund I mentioned brought over with her. Their names are also Ace and Ben, and they're the same respective species of pokemon as our Ace and Ben. Both Aces are Boltunds, both Bens are Pikachus. However, the other Ace and Ben are shinies, whereas our Ace and Ben are not. Lisa and the other pair's mother are both Boltunds, but their father, from what that other Boltund told us, is a normal Raichu, not an Alolan Raichu like me.
Alex: - Alright. I just wanted to clear that up.
They reach the Rogers' house, and Nick gets settled into Ace's room while Jake and Lisa drive Alex, Jack, Mark, and Will to their homes, then drive back to get Nick's room ready for him to move into.
End of Chapter 12