The Joy of Research

I felt the aura resonating within me, through me, and around me. I felt the Aura breathing life into me and pushing me out of the stillness of the grey. The darkness of sleep was always the same. Ever since I gained the ability to manifest the Aura I could no longer dream. The instance between falling asleep then wake up is the same as blinking. One moment you see everything and the next nothing. In the split of a second its like the only thing that changed was the time of day. The blue hue of the Aura, such abilities aren't without their costs, but with it, I see all. Even during that second of pause some manner of memory remains. Like the world and I become one during that pause. I feel the air in the lungs of a Snorlax resting in the Prairie. I see through the mankey swinging through the trees and feel the branched strain. I can hear a heart beat resounding through me as if it were my own.

Lucario broke it down into two forms. One he called "Waking Dream." It's where you don't truly dream. Instead, reality slowly becomes your dream. Then there's "Dreaming Awake" You're dreaming but in the waking world with the power to change it. The difference between "Dreaming Awake" and "Waking Dream" is based on your perception of reality; I still don't understand. How can you dream when you're awake and be awake when your dream? I never understood it, but it helps to have an explanation when color returns after sleeping. Lucario would call it resting and not sleeping, but it all looks the same to me.

I opened my eyes, leaving the dream and falling into the next, feeling a bit different. Last time my eyes were open I was being evac'd by a helicopter to Pewter City. I could recount my injuries with easy. Two fractured rip; could tell by the pain I felt while running. I had a fracture in my leg; I could perceive as much with the Aura. There's the poison in my system causing momentary bouts of blindness. I was extremely exhausted to the point I couldn't feel pain much anymore. Finally there's the Aura overexposure. I used the Aura to force my body past its limits. Normal people wouldn't be able to move with the injuries I sustained, but Lucario taught me his own brand of "Battle Meditation." It's a technique to keep going until the body completely fails. Simply focusing on the task at hand ignoring pain and running on whatever the body has left until the end. It's kept me alive many times, but extended usage of Aura can lead to fatal problems.

That's what Lucario told me, and I believe it.

I'm awake, but unable to move.

I tried to move my arms and legs to nothing. My waist won't even budge when I tried to shrimp my hips. My neck moves when I gulp but my head won't move left or right when I try to crane my neck. I can move my nose, blink, and twitch my ears. My fingers won't shift even an inch. The Aura must've locked out my body for the time being. It possibly kept me in a resting state as well to recover. I wonder how long I've been asleep this time. A couple of hours or maybe a day or two. I guess I can only wait until my body can move.

I closed my eyes to rest once more. This feels like a Waking Dream as I sorted through my memories. The memories of my last adventure? Conflict? Or maybe catastrophe? Those scenes are plaguing my thoughts even now. The destruction I caused was terrible, and I'm struggling to fight the regret dig deep in my stomach. How many innocent Pokémon were caught in that massive forest fire? How many did me, a Ranger Apprentice, sacrifice? Then there's the fact that I manifested the Aura the entire time. Every life in the hive was a distinct light, and I watched almost every single light fade. By fire or fighting I felt every life around me extinguish.

My dreams drifted towards my first day. Those sperrow from before were like little vermin. I held no reservations with their demise. Pikachu and I suffered, but then again that's just what they are. They acted out on instinct. Those Beedrill and their hive though did nothing but what instinct drove them to do. They lived the life they were meant to, and I took that life away. For all intents and purposes, it was successful operation, but it wasn't a victory for anyone. We all lost something. I'm just the one that kept his life.

'I'm sorry mama. I did something bad.' I tried to speak these words but my chin wouldn't move and so my mouth stayed still. The queen didn't deserve to die in such a way, not that I had a choice. It wanted me dead, and I wanted to survive. If I could smirk I would at the irony. The survival of what we care about was our goal. For the Queen it was her hive. For me it was for my familiars.

Then there's Fey.

I felt my eyes fluttered open at the memory of that Pokémon. Fey evolved into a Beedrill with the desire to escape the Hive. I realize that now. She wanted to escape her Hive, her fate to become the next Hive Queen, and fight against the instinct to follow the Hive. How can a Pokémon be so different from its kin. Fey has different thoughts, feelings, and coloration in comparison to the many other Beedrill I've dealt with. Even the queen, though larger and mega aggressive, was still the same color with the same instincts. Fey rejected hers. Someone that belonged to the hive, but didn't feel she belonged. I guess I can relate.

I'm different and Fey is different. Most of my Pokémon are all different in their own way. Even Pikachu. He desires to fight against humans and yet willingly follows me. I think it's because he believes I can make his goal become a reality. I can walk were he can't, and he can fight when I'm down. When he took control of lightning itself to push back the Murder it was amazing. I've never knew that as possible outside of the stories about Legendary Pokémon; the few Pokémon where there's only a single one in existence, as far as we know.

Ace, my long time best friend, has been there for me for years. He's so bright and shiny. He shines bright no matter where he goes or what time of day. Golden and proud, he was alone when I found him. The other Pidgey rejected him and he was alone just like me. They rejected him with deadly force because he was different and bigger. Even as a Pidgey he overcame a Pidgeotto because of his size and now he's the largest of my Pokémon with ease. I think he chose to follow me because I'm part of his flock. Once I leave he'd have nothing. I'd do anything to keep him safe and happy, and he'd do the same for me.

We are all trying our best to find our place in this. We all came together as if an act of fate. Well, everyone except Dual. He's a butterfree and I captured him on a whim. Though I don't know many bug type Pokémon capable of learning Protect through evolution. From what I learned at the Poké School and Ranger Academy, Pokémon can only learn moves aligned with their type and Protect isn't his. Maybe Dual is more special than he looks. If only I could smile because of course Dual is special. He was able to work well with Fey and even curb her rage at times. They're the piercing spear and stonewall shield mashed together and against such a massive threat as well. They're a truly Fey Dual combo.

If only I could laugh.

While I'm a bit distressed by the loss of life in the Hive, I am relieved my companions are safe. Misty, Team Rocket, Meowth, Fey, Dual, Yancy, and finally Rick are all safe from the forest and fire. That does mean something.

I wonder if Prof. Oak sent me the funds for my last discovery. I still need to log in my Hive findings for more funds. I've defeated a fair number of trainers in that forest, the last being the fake Samurai, and amassed a decent sum of Pokédollars and some Pokéyen from them. Trainer's Value is nice. I better get some manner of bounty for saving two human lives as well from the Ranger's Association too.

Twitch.

I opened my eyes and drew them down to my toes. I couldn't see them well though the tube and clear mask over my face but made them out well enough. I narrowed them at my right toe. It twitched and moved at my command. I gulped and shifted my throat. I felt my chin shift and shake and with it my lips parted. Finally, I'm getting feeling back in my limps, but I wanted to cringe more than celebrate. The pain came in waves starting from the tips of my toes keeping its way up. It soon reached my neck. The burning sensation in my lungs, tingling on my sides, and sharp knife-like pain in my legs were harsh. Still, I'll take it as long as I can move. I moved my eyes and finally my neck to look to the sides. My vision was a bit blurry still, but I could make out shapes and colors. I blinked causing my vision to clear progressively.

I spied a silhouette and narrowed my eyes it.

Misty? I could recognize her form and face. She was asleep on a chair not too far from me leaning against a wall. I looked around the room I woke up in from the dim light above to the furniture as well. I'm in a bed, that much is apparent, and I'm not alone in this room. I can't feel it with the Aura though. I can't see her light at all. I can't see the calm and cool waters of her Aura or even feel it. It was almost as if she were dead. Only observation that stayed my panic was the fact I can see her breathing. She's alive so calmed down a bit.

I looked down and noticed I've color, though indistinct, in my body. I can feel the Aura within me but not without. I'm blind to the Aura, again. I felt this would happen to me again from Aura Overexposure. The world isn't bright to me same with the lives around me. I'm in the dark just like before I found the Aura.

The shadow world surrounds me. I haven't felt this alone in a long time.

I shifted my body once more and felt something on my arms and legs. I've been strapped down to the bed it seems. I've leather straps holding me down. Maybe because I move around when I sleep sometimes. I've been told by momma I throw punches and kicks at times too. The thought of kicking that Ranger in the face was nice. I felt my restraints for a gap and found one. With a little work, I wiggled my hand through the leather strap holding my left arm down. I pulled on the straps at my chest and leaned up. The pain in my chest was terrible but not the worst I've felt. I took my time to take the leather belts off my legs. Pretty sure the leather is made from a Kangaskhan. Their leather is some of the toughest.

I rubbed my neck as I kicked my feet over the bed. I reached up to the thing over my mouth last ready to yank it off. I hate things over my face.

"Stop." Someone grabbed my wrist. I shot my eyes towards the person and met blue eyes. Wild and sharp like a raging hurricane with equally powerful winds, these eyes focused squarely on mine. I felt that if I moved or disobeyed, I'd pay for it in spades. I let my hand relax in the soft but firm grip it was in. Slowly, the grip on my wrist ceased, and I dropped my hand down to my lap. "Good," the woman said with an approving smile on her lips. She walked to the side and picked up a clip board of sorts and looked it over. I waited patiently as the woman studied the paper and periodically look back up to me then down.

"I got the alarm you wet waking and rushed here just encase you started to get restless. I'm in awe at the fact you're even moving right now let alone awake." The woman faced me wagging her clipboard to the side. "My, I've treated my fair share of injuries," the woman reported. She paced from one side of the room to the next and followed her every step closely. I noticed that Misty wasn't the only one in the room with me during this. I saw Yancy to the side in a chair as well. Rick was nowhere to be found, but that's fine. Rick does whatever their sort does. Probably left once I was out of critical condition or resting away from wherever I am. Rick never liked hospitals or Pokémon Centers, not that I could blame them.

I rubbed my eyes a bit and peered at the woman to make out pink hair and Pokémon Center Nurse attire. The Nurse Joy before me is younger than Commanding Officer Joy from Viridian City. I don't like this one. I can tell by the way she walks and studies me like I do Pokémon I need to be cautious. I wonder now if she wants to cut me open like they do in the science and Biology shows I've seen. I noticed a table of sharp objects on top of a silver tray waiting for flesh to cut open. Maybe she already did experiment and cut me open then put everything back together. I wouldn't know because they can just erase my scars with their machines.

I gulped a bit and paled. Maybe I should set fire to this evil place next. In momma's shows only mad scientists did that to people instead of Pokémon. It's not right either way to but other people, now that's going too far. I can quickly grab one of those pointy things and stab her, but I'll have to move fast. Something tells me she's…

"Mr. Ketchum." My thought halted her the dull tone of her voice. The woman reached down to her breast pocket and pulled on the glasses hanging from them. She placed them on over her face before facing me with a disturbing amount of focus. "The injuries that you sustained are quite impressive for one your age. Reckless doesn't even begin to cover it. Senseless may be close." Nurse Joy or Pewter City Joy's words were direct and harsh. "Leaving your injuries to the side, the sheer number of contaminants that saturated your body and infected your internal organs should've out you to rest. It evidently wasn't to be."

I'm thankful for that. Momma would hate me if I left her like grandpa did.

"All intents and purposes, you died, but still fought to survive. It's quite unreal ." The woman looked down to my right arm and grabbed my wrist once more. "This arm as well was completely useless and nearly falling off and now…" She released my arm and I held it up with ease. My shoulder spiked but it wasn't enough pain to entice a reaction. "Move your arm up, down, out, down, and finally forward and backwards please." I rose an eyebrow but did as asked. It wasn't difficult but there was discomfort. I told her such which she jotted down on that clipboard, I think.

"Mr. Ketchum, the fact you can move that arm is astounding, even with current generation technology." Scientist Joy looked up to me with wonder before leaning off a bit. "Forgive me. You probably don't understand what I mean do you?"

"I was hurt and got better," I spoke clearly through the mask as if it wasn't there. It's like there's a speaker on it. The few little words I've used hurt my throat and chest.

"Hurt is an understatement. You were critically, fatally injured. I believed you wouldn't make it." Scientist Joy rose her glasses up her nose. "I'm unsure what you breathed in, but it burned the internal lining of you're lungs and polluted your airways. You're on the respirator right now because that's the only way you can breathe, but you appear to be breathing without assistance. Your rate of healing is miraculous. How? You shouldn't even be able to breathe without help, but you're slated to have your respirator removed within the hour. It's simply amazing..."

I stopped listening after a while. I used that time to look around and at myself. I don't care for her fascination. I've had other adults do the same before at school and the academy. It never mattered then and doesn't now; just as long as I'm alive. I don't really care what happens next or for her inquisitiveness. I looked around for my knife to nothing. They must've confiscated it. Misty was still asleep, and it wasn't until now that I realized I saw her and Yancy through a glass window. It was really clear and the area outside appeared a part of the room. I listened to the Nurse's directions to test out my motor functions or something like that.

This version of Nurse Joy wasn't anything like Commanding Officer Joy which left me to wonder what the other Joys are like. I listened to the Nurse's instructions to test out my motor functions and other stuff more for myself than her. I was off my bed on my feet in moments. I was wobbly at first, but I quickly got my balance. I bent down and back, rose my arms and legs in different directions, performed squats and lunges, and she had me do some push up exercises as well. My respirator stayed on the whole time. Once finished the Nurse took down her notes. She gave me a shot a moment later in my leg and another under my arm into my side. After whatever she gave me, she had me lay back down again.

The serums they give us humans boost our body's healing, but we can't take too many at once. I'm not sure how many they gave me, but it helped with my lungs I guess. This gas I'm breathing in is supposed to help fix my lungs as well. I didn't think I breathed in that much toxic powder to need this much. After a little more resting the monitor above me turned green I just noticed. The nurse walked to me and reached down for my mask thing.

"Take a deep breath and hold it." I did as told and she pulled off the mask. "Now start taking slow and steady breathes." Again I followed instructions expecting breathing to hurt. Surprisingly I felt only a little discomfort. The nurse placed something cold on my chest the went to her ear. "Breath normally and when I tap your shoulder take a deep breath in, and then out." I breathed the air of the room feeling a little better to have that mask off. The Nurse Joy felt more like a nurse and less like a scientist now which helped.

"Good. Your lungs sound good." The woman smiled but felt no warmth from it. Her smile reminded me of those people that take I'll of momma and I but smile politely when we come around. I've listened in on them talking many times. This smile is the same fake and unfeeling one they all gave me.

"Now open your mouth and said ahhh."

I opened it, "Ahhggghh!"

The nurse placed a wooden stick on my tongue and forced it down. She put a light in my face forcing my eyes closed. "Lining looks good." She pulled the stick out and tossed it unceremoniously over her shoulder. She placed her fingers against my neck and rubbed the sides. "Trachea feels solid and aligned."

The nurse returned laid me back down, grabbed her her clip board, and then walked to a computer on a desk at the opposite end of the room from my bed.

"I think you're capable of free speech now. Can you explain how you we're hurt Mr. Ketchum? Preferably from start to finish."

"Uh, okay?" I didn't see some reason not too. I told the Nurse about my how my Pokémon was taken by beedrill and what I did to get him back. I told her how I sustained most of my injuries I could recall though.

"The pain you had to have felt makes that impossible. You couldn't have ran with a transverse fracture like that. Grown men wouldn't be capable of such. There's something more you're not telling me isn't there?" The Nurse Joy turned her attention back towards me. Her glasses glowed in the lamp light combined with the light from her computer screen shielding her eyes and shadowing her face. My senses flared telling me I was in danger again forcing my mouth shut. I can never tell anyone that looks and acts like this about my abilities. I can never tell anyone outside of Pallet Town about my family's gift. I can never reveal the aura to them because I've seen what they do to anyone that's "Different."

"My momma says I'm very stubborn," I muttered feeling progressively uncomfortable and short of air.

"Does she now," this Nurse Joy said almost mockingly. "Very stubborn indeed." The Nurse returned to her computer. I breathed a sigh of relief she didn't push this, but feel this isn't over.

Knock, knock, knock

I turned my attention to the massive clear window. Yancy was knocking on the glass and waved at me. I waved back happy to see she's okay. I'm relieved they both made it. Since I'm awake though I'm eager to get going.

"Nurse Joy," I called up to the scientist nurse. She's just like those mad researchers from momma's show again clicking away on her keyboard. The ones that poke and cut pokémon open to see what's inside. Last I checked I'm not a pocket monster.

"Yes Mr. Ketchum," she asked sounding very impatient as if I shouldn't be bothering her right now.

"When can I be released?" I asked quickly.

"Released?" The woman questioned. "What do you mean, released?"

I gulped.

I didn't like where this was going. I've seen this on television when those scientist people find something called the "Perfect specimen" or the "breakthrough" they've been searching for. I'm afraid I might be the next one to be placed on a table and cut open. I narrowed my eyes at the woman more than ready to fight my way out of this center before I end up like those caterpie at ranger academy.

"I-I mean allowed to continue on my journey, nurse," I clenched my fists slowly so not to catch her attention. Though I think she focused too much on her clipboard and my face to see my fists. I spotted that small cart with sharp things in it. I'd only need a few seconds to grab one and throw it at her. I'm good at throwing sharp things.

"Oh... well, you can after we… investigate your strange abilities."

I knew it. They wanna cut me open! Not gonna happen. I was about to react until the door suddenly slid open.

"I'm afraid we cannot allow that." A very firm voice ended the pause of silence. The man was dressed in white dress clothes with a red vest, a pair of black shoes on his feet, and Capture Styler on his belt. I blinked at who I saw on the other side of the door. He hasn't changed a bit since leadership classes at the Academy. He still has fair skin, spikey aquamarine hair, and teal eyes. The Ranger Association's Leadership Trainer himself.

"Captain Archer?" I questioned in shock feeling so much relief right now. It's only been a couple months since I was released from the Academy. The man rose his hand up to cover the corner of his mouth, hiding a portion of his smirk. It's the same he'd have whenever he caught me hiding. He could always find me when I got away from classes. I reached out for him frantically to come and save me. I don't want this. I don't want to be in a situation like this!

"Archer," Nurse Joy faced the man with a frown on her lips. The familiarity between the two of them was apparent by the aura transferring between the both of them. Mad Scientist Nurse Joy narrowed her eyes behind her wide glasses at my old instructor. Even more so he's smirk grew as if satisfied from becoming a massive obstacle in her plans. An obstacle I'm more than thankful for despite him being a Ranger. "What are you doing here now?" The Nurse nearly spat out at the Ranger.

"Me?" Archer looked around as if there was someone else in this room outside of the three of us. His blue hair flowed outside of hat that shot back and forth on his head just barely hanging on.

"Yes, fool. You!" Nurse Joy finally lost her patience and snapped angrily at the jovial man.

"Hehe," Ranger Archer smirked wider than before and walked into the room. He looked down to me with a look. One that said that he has this all taken care of and not to worry. I felt myself settle down like he casted hypnosis on me and was pulled out of my battle mode. I know I can trust this man to keep her away from me and her test, pokes, prods, and experiments. Just like last time. He'll keep me safe.

"I'm here for my Ranger's Apprentice," Ranger Archer shrugged. "One that lost his survival knife as well." The man reached behind him and somehow pulled my dad's knife out of nowhere. I held my hands out and open with my palms out. He dropped it down into them. I felt a smile creep up to my lips at the familiar warmth of the leather and my father's aura still radiating off it's grip as I hugged dad's only gift to me to my chest.

"Do not give my patient weapons in my Center, Ranger." I blinked and the knife was out of my hands and in hers instead. I didn't even see her move or catch her hands from that swipe.

"Give it back!" I nearly jumped up, but a hand on my shoulder stopped me. I reached up to pry the hand off but, before I could touch it, I felt my shoulder roll back. My bad shoulder at that. Pain creaked up my spine stunning me in moments. I grit my teeth and relented to calm down. I can just get it back later. I can wait for a minute or two.

"Good," Ranger Archer nodded at me before turning his attention back to the nurse. I blinked again and the knife was out of her hands and in his then suddenly placed back down on my chest as if nothing happened. I closed my hands around it and hid it away from the nurse just incase she got any ideas to take it back. "And he's no patient of yours Jeice… or is it Joy now? I forget since you did the surgery."

Surgery? I've heard the word but don't know what it meant. Whatever it meant it turned Nurse Joy's face red with rage. So much so she stomped up towards my trainer looking ready to hit him.

"I've his release form from Professor Oak himself." The ranger lifted up a paper and from the old man at that. "He's written to your lead and everything has been cleared." The woman snagged the paper from his hands. She read it over silently with the tension rising to uncomfortable levels.

The nurse frowned before glaring down at me. "This boy is a priceless commodity of human evolution!" She reached out towards me, but I leaned back away from her before she could touch me again. "His natural healing, resistance to serums, and even unnatural resistance to venom is unbelievable. His blood alone…"

"Is none of your concern, Nurse Joy," Archer interrupted harsher than anything I've heard from him before. He said her title and name like it was an insult on top of this.

"But it is my business and right as a researcher to study him." The nurse pulled up something that looked like a pokédex and opened it. Her picture came but same with a bunch of information I couldn't read. It was too small. "And last I checked he's no ranger or apprenticed to one. That means you've no sway over when he's released or can take him past the required four hours after returning to consciousness."

I winced at this bit of information. Four hours with the needles and the pins. No… NO! I looked to Ranger Archer for something, anything to save me from this lady. The ranger winked at his, never losing his smirk.

"Sure, normally you'd be correct." He admitted earning my dread but the Nurse's suspicion for some reason. "But that's for those of Patron Status." Patron from what I learned meaning no family association with Park Mart, the rangers, police force, researcher's branch, or the military. And if you are affiliated you need to be active, a dependent of an affiliate, or sponsored by one. "My apprentice here has finally acquired the necessary mission and hour prerequisites to be admitted into the Ranger's Association and sponsored by us same with previously stated Professor Oak of the Researcher's Branch." I blinked below the triumphant smirk that Ranger Archer wore.

The nurse glared down at me with a thing pointed at me. It looked like a Pokédex but larger and black instead of red. A light left the thing and lit up around me.

"SCAN COMPLETE." We heard from it.

The Nurse looked over her talking thingy and looked it over. Her frown evolved into a snarl of disgust as she read it openly for all to hear. "So just an hour ago you decided to bypass protocol and recruit this specimen. And because he wasn't conscious went to his sponsor instead that too, was reinstated just moments before you made your move. You son of a…"

"Return to your branch "Joy' and grab the real "Joy' before this gets fun. You know I love fun." Captain's smirk took a dark and sinister turn.

'Real Joy,' I wanted to ask but remained quiet. This Joy is a fake or maybe a Joy that became a Professor instead and came here in place of the Joy that was at this center. I wasn't sure how to process this. I don't understand what's going on. Why does this Joy, a professor probably, want me? Is it just because I can do things others can't? I mean, the Aura isn't that special. If pokémon can do this then anyone can like with fighting pokémon. Anyone can do their moves with the right training. Brick Break is one of the easiest.

Stranger even was the tone Captain Archer used with her. I've heard him say he "loves fun" before and witnessed exactly what that means. I felt my body run cold and wished to return to sleep before seeing him have "fun" ever again with someone that made him upset. That man he… all he did was poach a few Tauros too.

"Do you even understand what I had to use to help him recover? No? Let me tell you! It wasn't meant for…" The imposter Joy tried to explain before Captain Archer scoffed a loud "Joy!" and flashed her a disgusted sneer.

Archer rose his voice and this man never raises his voice so now he had our full attention. The man said nothing and opt to stare at the nurse who stood firm in her stance. Suddenly his amber eyes shot to me. "Ash. Go get your stuff. It's in the last room to the right at the end of the hall."

"Uh, yes, Captain?" I didn't spare the nurse a look before grabbing my knife, climbing out of bed, and making my way out the door to get my stuff in nothing but the center patient clothes they put me in. The last words of that Nurse did bother me though. What they used on me wasn't mean for something or someone. It wasn't meant for me, maybe? No, if that's the case then why use it then? They used something to help me recover quickly like at the other pokémon center probably, but what was it? I rubbed my head and sighed. I can't think of this right now. My friends need my attention more than adult stuff like that.

A/N: Been a long time since I've touched this story. Time to continue the journey and move to the first gym.