Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon. It belongs to Nintendo and Game Freak.

Hi all,

Here's the next chapter. Lucas continues to learn more about the world around him and suffers from a lack of funds.

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Chapter 3

A week flew by as Lucas immersed himself in researching the Pokemon Breeder profession, all the while waiting for his leg to recover. The Doctor had underestimated him, for his leg had made remarkable progress in such a short amount of time. He had stopped using the crutches. He predicted that it would take another week for him to fully recover the use of his leg.

Lucas quickly learned that becoming a Pokemon Breeder was much more challenging than he had originally thought. To legally sell Pokemon Eggs, he needed to obtain a Breeder's license, which required passing a qualification test. But here's the catch–the test alone came with a hefty price tag of twenty thousand Pokedollars. He would have to memorise a lot of information to pass the test. He didn't want to have to pay the fee again to take the test a second time.

Lucas turned his attention to the field of Alchemy. Unlike a Pokemon Breeder, you didn't need a license because it was easy to assess the quality of a potion when selling it to a buyer. If he became proficient at it, then he would have a way to earn a substantial amount of Pokedollars. However, if it was that easy, why wasn't everyone doing it?

Firstly, the initial expense was exorbitant. In order to acquire the necessary equipment and ingredients to start, a minimum of five thousand Pokedollars would be required. However, even with this investment, profitability was uncertain due to the extensive experimentation involved in producing viable salves, potions, and pills. The challenges faced by aspiring Alchemists were numerous. Nonetheless, he possessed a system that granted him an edge over his competitors.

For now, he needed to recover and find another way to earn some initial funds. Therefore, he decided to stick with his original plan of selling Pokemon portraits. He started by drawing portraits of Delia's Pokemon. Having a portfolio of his work would facilitate his ability to persuade others to spend Pokedollars on his portraits. There happened to be a market scheduled in town for the following week, providing him with the opportunity to rent a stall and sell them.

Lucas was snapped out of his thoughts by the sound of Icarus calling out to him.

At that moment, he was training in the backyard with Icarus. Blue, one of Delia's three Pokémon and a Poliwrath, was training with them. Although Delia wasn't a trainer, she trained her Pokémon to fight. It was a necessary precaution in a world where wild Pokémon roamed freely, and could attack at any given moment. Humans themselves often proved to be an even greater threat.

"Icarus, use Quick Attack on Poliwrath!"

Icarus descended rapidly in a steep dive towards his target on the ground. In the final moment, he was covered by a layer of white energy, before colliding with Poliwrath's midsection. Poliwrath made no effort to defend itself, effortlessly absorbing the attack. Icarus briefly touched the ground before swiftly taking flight once more.

Icarus struggled to regain his momentum in time to stay airborne after performing a Quick Attack. Additionally, he suffered minor damage from the attack. Repeating this manoeuvre several times caused Icarus' health status to decline from Perfect to Excellent.

Lucas documented his observations in his notebook. Upon reading up further on Pokemon moves, he discovered they were far more complex than he had ever Imagined. Their moves could exhibit significant variations based on the Pokemon executing them. An evaluation of a move's effectiveness necessitated careful consideration of several factors.

First, let's consider the Pokemon species. Each of these species is inherently unique, with distinct variations in their physical composition. Some Pokemon fall under the category of amorphous, possessing soft and non-structured bodies that can easily change shape. On the other side of the spectrum, we have Pokemon with extremely hard bodies, like those of the steel type. Furthermore, a Pokemon's size may have an effect on the amount of damage that can be inflicted.

Their energy usage was a significant factor. Pokemon derived their power from the energy that permeates the world. Initially, this energy existed in a neutral state known as 'Normal-type,' but it could be transformed into various types like water or fire, each with its distinct properties. The interaction between these energy types resulted in a wide range of outcomes. Certain types had strengths or weaknesses against others, while some remained neutral when facing each other.

As Pokemon continued to utilise this energy, their bodies evolved over time and developed into various types. This allowed them to more effectively harness their advantages. Their bodies developed increased resistance against specific types while becoming weaker to others. As a result, battles between Pokemon were varied and there were a lot of things that had to be taken into consideration.

All moves, whether they are special or physical, require energy. For example, when using Quick Attack, a small veil is generated around the Pokemon before it strikes the target. This veil helps protect the Pokemon from damage, depending on their skill in manifesting normal-type energy. In the case of Icarus, he still takes damage because he is still in the early stages of mastering this skill. Another reason could be that Poliwrath has a much higher defense than Icarus, causing injury to Icarus when they clash.

The way a Pokemon uses a move during battle can be another contributing factor. It may have an advantage based on its form, or a trainer may find creative ways to utilise the move.

Let's consider the move 'Quick Attack' as an illustration. Icarus was known as a "Bird of Prey" Pokemon, which bestowed upon him the ability to leverage his aerial advantage and execute attacks from above. The descent accelerates his speed, thereby increasing the force of the attack.

One of the lessons he sought to impart upon Icarus was the art of efficiently sustaining flight after an attack. Touching down upon the ground following an attack would render him vulnerable to his opponent. After all, he had little utility when grounded.

"All right, Icarus, let's focus on speed drills to help enhance the velocity of your Quick Attacks."

"Pidgey."

Icarus took to the sky, engaging in a series of speed drills. He carved through hundreds of feet of open air, steadily accelerating until he reached his maximum speed. With a swift motion, he flared his wings to slow himself down, executing a graceful stop. Then, without missing a beat, he pivoted and repeated the same fluid action.

Reaching the initial mastery in Quick Attack was relatively easy for Icarus, considering he already had Tackle in his move pool. Initially, Quick Attack functioned as a faster version of Tackle. The next stage of training involved enhancing Icarus' manoeuvrability while executing Quick Attacks, thus expanding his tactical possibilities in battle.

"I appreciate your help, Poliwrath," Lucas called. "That will do for today."

"Poli," Poliwrath grunted before walking off.

Lucas wanted to take Icarus into the wild to gain some experience. The fields outside of Pallet Town were inhabited by low-level Pokemon. It's the responsibility of Pokemon Rangers to manage their population in areas where people live. This often involves relocating higher-level Pokemon to allow them to establish their own territories. The previous host had been exploring a low-level zone before he fell into the gorge.

Before he ventured outside, he needed to teach Icarus and learn some more offensive moves. His partner only had three moves, one of which was virtually useless. Sand Attack was a ground-type attack, and Icarus' use of ground-type energy wasn't sufficient. It was hard for him to materialise the sand. The attack was as effective as throwing a handful of sand in someone's face.

While he wanted to practice, he didn't have time to waste. He had not considered the financial burden of feeding Icarus when determining his current finances. Even the most basic food cost him fifty Pokedollars per day. Pokemon needed various nutrients to keep them in good condition, for their bodies were constantly subjected to high levels of physical trauma and stress. It was no surprise that it would cost a lot of Pokedoollars to feed them.

Fifty Pokedollars was the bare minimum. That was only the most commonly available Pokemon food. In order to get optimal performance, food must be tailored to each Pokemon. With the optimal diet, it could greatly enhance a Pokemon's stat gains and improve the relationship with the trainer.

Lucas consulted his notes. Over the last few days, Icarus has maxed out his stat gains for the current level. Before reaching the threshold, he gained six stat points. Maxing them out at every level was clearly the optimal route.

The highlight of the week for Lucas came when he unlocked an amazing new feature.

Lucas Walker

Level: 2

Next: [75/100%]

Exp Cache: [0]

Skill Points (SP): 1

Profession

Pokemon Trainer Lv.1

Skills

Insight [Active/Passive] (Level 1/5)

Coach [Passive] (Level 1/5)

The system granted him the power to obtain professions by performing specific actions. Based on his understanding, he acquired new skills by obtaining professions and levelling them up. If this was indeed the case, becoming a Pokemon Breeder and training as an Alchemist simultaneously would be even easier. The only downside was that he did not gain a profession relating to being an artist, suggesting that the system only applied to selected professions.

The value of the newly acquired skill 'Coach' became immediately apparent.

Skill: Coach Level 1/5 Next: 1 SP Type: Passive Charges: -

Description: Training your Pokemon to become stronger should benefit the player as well. For every stat the Pokemon gains through training, the player receives fifty experience points. Levelling up this skill even further will provide additional benefits.

The skill allowed him to earn experience even outside of battle, although it was limited at the moment. If he had a full roster of six Pokemon, then it would be more useful. Regardless, it was useful in the beginning and earned him enough experience to level up.

He spent his experience and levelled up to two. Despite acquiring a skill point, he made the decision to save it for the time being. Skill points were valuable resources, and he saw no need to hastily allocate them until he gained more levels.

"Are you out there, Lucas?" Delia called from inside the house.

"I'm here," Lucas replied.

Delia stepped outside and joined him in the yard."How's the training going?"

"Great," Lucas replied, closing his notebook. "I want to venture outside and gain some more experience battling Pokemon. Maybe complete some more missions for the adventurers guild."

"Well, I have a proposition for you," Delia said cheerfully. "I still need to return to the gorge. How about you lend a hand in harvesting the berries? We can split the harvest right down the middle, so we both get an equal share."

Lucas's body went rigid as a wave of fear washed over him. The traumatic encounter with Arbok played out in his mind, gripping his thoughts with a visceral force. The memory of the moment when Arbok had nearly swallowed him whole was so vivid that bile rose in his throat. His breath quickened as he felt as if he were trapped in the same terrifying predicament once more.

"Lucas!"

He abruptly snapped out of his stupor, his eyes locking with Delia's gaze filled with deep concern. "Lucas, are you alright?"

Lucas wiped the sweat off his brow. "I'm fine."

"I think you should see a therapist. You—"

"I'm fine," Lucas snapped, before taking a deep breath to regain his composure. "Sorry, that was uncalled for."

"It's okay."

"I don't think I'm ready to see a therapist right now. I need some time to work through things on my own."

His terrifying nightmares tormented him relentlessly throughout the night. The deep-set bags under his eyes were an undeniable testament to his prolonged sleeplessness. To exacerbate matters, his leg continued to throb agonisingly when the effects of the pain medication faded away, adding to his torment.

"Well, I can see that you are not in the best shape to venture into the gorge, so I will do it on my own."

"I need to face it," Lucas said. "Plus, having a supply of Oran berries may help me get started with Alchemy. Is the Arbok still in the gorge?"

"No, he was moved to a new location."

"Then I should be fine."

"Alright, we will leave next weekend to give your leg more time to heal," Delia said. "I have to go to Professor Oak's laboratory. Can you look after Ash for me?"

"Sure," Lucas replied. He called Icarus back and returned him to his Pokeball, then followed her into the house.

Babysitting Ash was not how he wanted to be spending his time, but he felt indebted to her. Even though she may have a misguided trust in him because he reminded her of her brother, he was determined not to betray that trust.

Another week had gone by, and Lucas' leg had finally healed completely, except for the occasional twinge. He had a couple of coin-sized scars on his leg from the Arbok's bite. Delia noted with amazement how quickly he recovered, but Lucas found the time waiting for it to heal excruciating.

Lucas decided to do some exploring before setting up his stall at the town market. He rented a stall for five hundred Pokedollars, with the hope of not only recouping that cost but also making plenty more. His first destination was Professor Oak's laboratory and residence, positioned atop the hill in an affluent suburb. Since Ash was staying with his friend Gary for the weekend, Lucas needed to bring him along.

Ash guided him along the road that ascended the hill and entered the affluent neighbourhood. The incline was unexpectedly steep, presenting a daunting challenge. Within a few minutes, Lucas found himself gasping for breath, his legs feeling an intense burn. Three weeks of inactivity had caused some muscle atrophy, and it would take some time to return to his former level of fitness.

"Come on, grandpa! Pick up the pace," Ash playfully prodded.

"Cut me some slack, squirt," Lucas wheezed. "You're not the one who just suffered from a debilitating leg injury."

"Spare me the excuses."

Must not strangle Delia's kid, Lucas reminded himself. Ash finally took pity on him and they sat down on a bench so Lucas could take a break. Ash bounced in his seat, and he marvelled at Ash's seemingly boundless energy.

"How long until you turn ten?" Lucas asked.

"Only three months," Ash muttered, anxiously scuffing the ground with his foot. "But I'm not sure if I'll be able to begin my Pokemon journey right away. Unlike Gary, who already has a Pokemon Egg that is about to hatch."

Lucas was astounded by the fact that children as young as ten could become Pokemon trainers and explore the treacherous wilderness. However, there were certain measures in place to safeguard them.

First and foremost, they were not permitted to travel alone. It was necessary for them to have an accompanying adult, someone who possessed the strength to safeguard them. Only when they reached the age of thirteen and demonstrated sufficient maturity and capability would they be allowed to venture out on their own.

Secondly, in order to continue their education, they were required to learn through correspondence. Failure to maintain an average grade could result in the suspension of their trainer's license until they demonstrate their ability to manage the workload.

Lucas considered himself fortunate to have already reached the age of eighteen, thereby sparing himself the torment of returning to school. The downside was that he couldn't recall the memories of his previous host. Consequently, he had been diligently acquiring a vast amount of knowledge over the past two weeks in an attempt to catch up.

The final requirement for a ten-year-old to become a trainer was having enough resources to begin their journey. If an adult accompanied them, this requirement was likely not an issue. Becoming a trainer was not a cheap undertaking. The government only provided a random Pokemon to those who lacked the means themselves. This occurred either when someone was just starting out as a trainer or when they turned eighteen, as Lucas did. All other expenses had to be covered by the trainers themselves. Earning Pokedollars from trainer battles proved to be a challenge for inexperienced trainers. In fact, they could potentially lose Pokedollars since each match required a wager.

"Perhaps your mom can join you on your journey," Lucas suggested.

"Yeah, I don't think so. With how much she worries, I'll probably be stuck here till I turn eighteen," Ash said. "And by then, I'll be too old to start as a trainer."

"Ouch," Lucas clutched his chest. "I felt the burn right there."

"You are not interested in becoming a trainer anyway," Ash said with a snort.

"That's true. Do you know if your mom will get you a Pokemon Egg?

"I hope so," Ash said. "But I don't really wanna ask for it, ya know? My mom's doing pretty well with money, but it's not like she has an endless supply of Pokedollars. I don't want her stressing about it. I guess I can just start with a free Pokemon."

Ash displayed an unexpected level of maturity. Despite his penchant for being a brat, he proved to be a good kid to his mum.

"Let's continue," Lucas said as he stood up.

Half an hour later, they arrived in an affluent neighbourhood. Most of the residents lived in large mansions with expansive front lawns hidden behind high-security walls. Private security guards patrolled the streets, accompanied by vigilant canine Pokemon, on the lookout for criminals. Witnessing the stark contrast between the wealthy and the impoverished, Lucas couldn't help but shake his head in despair.

Professor Oak's lab was situated on a spacious property. As an integral part of his research, he maintained a collection of Pokemon housed in enclosures at the rear of his estate. As they approached the lab, it became evident that it had started out as a farmhouse. Because of the difficult terrain, long stone walls were used to provide natural support and a stable and solid façade for the new building, while the upper half maintained its wooden exterior.

They walked into the reception area where he noticed a young woman seated behind the front desk. She appeared to be around his age, with a wholesome appeal. Her long brown hair was held back by a dark green band that complemented her dress of the same colour.

"Hey Daisy," Ash hurriedly approached the counter.

"Hey Ash, Gary is currently in the lab with Grandad."

"Thank you," Ash said, hastily departing without offering a farewell.

Daisy greeted him with a smile as he walked up to the desk. "Ash isn't trying to be rude. He's just really impatient and doesn't like to waste time."

"Good to know," Lucas said, extending a hand out for her to shake. "I'm Lucas Walker."

"Daisy Oak," Daisy said, leaning forward to shake his hand, "I have heard about you from my grandfather." As she leaned forward, he couldn't help but notice her cleavage. Her breasts were full and rounded, adding to her appeal. Daisy caught him looking but chose not to call him out on it.

"I'm pleasantly surprised that he actually remembers my name," Lucas chuckled. "He was completely focused on work the first time we met."

"Grandad tends to get tunnel vision," Daisy remarked, covering her smile with her hand. "He becomes so engrossed in a task that he disregards everything else around him."

"He must be a busy man."

"He sure is," Daisy said, glancing down at her computer. "Thank you for dropping off Ash. When left to his own devices, he can get into mischief."

"That's okay," Lucas said. "I wanted to see parts of the town I hadn't seen before."

Recognizing that she needed to return to her work, he stepped back. He was instantly drawn to her gorgeous smile and attractive figure. But he shook his head, realising that entertaining such thoughts was foolish. It was wise for him not to be distracted by a woman far above his social standing. After all, his present circumstances were still uncertain. It was likely she wouldn't be interested in getting involved with an orphan from a low-class neighbourhood.

Saying goodbye, Lucas stepped outside and walked back down the hill. He would have been better off hiring a carriage, but he was being frugal. By the time he arrived at the market, it would be time to open his stall.

Lucas sat behind his stall with several of his paintings on display. He had been sitting behind the stall for over an hour. Several people had shown interest in his artwork, but so far, no one had actually purchased a painting. Each one was selling for two hundred Pokedollars. He was charging four hundred Pokedollars for an original portrait. Although it may seem like a lot, creating even one piece takes time. He had to consider the cost of materials, such as the picture frames he bought for the painting. For this to be a viable way of earning Pokedollars, he needed to make a decent return from each one.

The paintings were done in watercolours. They produced a luminosity and transparency not found in other art forms, which made the portraits stand out. He had an easel next to him, as well as the paints that he had prepared. While he waited, he continued to do research into Pokemon.

He was curious about how Pokeballs worked. It puzzled him why Pokemon could tolerate spending long periods of time within their Pokeballs without complaining. He learnt that Pokemon existed as pure energy while they were stored away in their Pokeballs. Pokemon could exist in two states; in physical form and as pure energy. With the latter, they maintained their consciousness and remained aware of the events occurring outside their Pokeball. Furthermore, while they existed as pure energy, their physical forms were kept in stasis. That meant if a Pokemon was injured, the Pokeball could keep them stable until you reached a Pokemon Centre.

Strangely enough, the Pokeball functioned in a similar manner to Pokemon Eggs. Baby Pokemon existed as pure energy within their eggs, and it was only when they were exposed to the outside that they assumed their physical form.

"Are you taking commissions?"

In front of him stood a young girl who appeared to be around twelve years old. It was clear from her designer clothing that she came from a wealthy background. Standing alongside her was a woman who bore a striking resemblance and had a similar sense of style. At their feet, a Growlithe sat attentively, observing the scene with keen interest.

"That's right," Lucas said. "My Pokemon portraits cost four hundred Pokedollars."

"Can you include my daughter in the portrait?" the woman asked. "I will pay double."

"Sure," Lucas shrugged. In hindsight, he should have predicted that people would want to be featured alongside their Pokemon. Despite the extra work, he would willingly do it for double the original price.

Luckily, he had an extra stool for the girl to sit on while the Growlithe remained at her feet. After inquiring about her preferred background, he promptly began working. Another reason he opted for watercolours was his vast experience with them, allowing him to complete the painting in the shortest possible time. After devoting nearly an hour to painting, he added the background, thereby finishing the piece.

Lucas removed the paper and slid it into an empty frame. It was an A1-size paper, suitable for a portrait. He handed the portrait over, and both mother and daughter were satisfied with the results. He received eight-hundred Pokedollars for his work, which was very good for an hour's work.

As soon as his first portrait was done, more requests started coming in. By the end of the day, he had sold all but one of the pre-made and painted four more originals. Since they were only portraits of the Pokemon themselves, he only earned four hundred Pokedollars from them. Even so, he ended up with three thousand and six hundred Pokedollars in total. After deducting the stall fees and materials, he ended up with a profit of two thousand one hundred Pokedollars.

He gathered his belongings and began heading towards the house. Along the way, he pondered potential venues where he could sell his portraits. Unfortunately, he couldn't rely on the monthly market for that purpose again. Perhaps he could design flyers and promote his services throughout the neighbourhood instead. It didn't matter where he set up shop; customers could meet him anywhere to have their portraits done. However, he realised that obtaining a cell phone was a prerequisite if he wanted to pursue this idea. He could start searching for one soon to see if he could find a cheap, second-hand option.

Lucas was astonished to discover that cell phones existed in this world, considering the strict regulations imposed by Arceus on the manufacturing process and the availability of its components. Surprisingly, televisions and computers still remained in use. It appeared that as long as the production scale remained small, certain items could still be manufactured. Consequently, certain commodities become scarcer and more expensive. This would only exacerbate the wealth disparity between the affluent and the impoverished.

The next day, Lucas and Delia made their way to the town entrance. With the help of Delia's Pokemon, they were confident they would be able to gather a lot of berries. Poliwrath, being the strongest of the bunch, shouldered a large basket on its back. Meanwhile, Lucas carried his rucksack on his shoulders. It contained only a few essential supplies, and left it mostly empty to allow him to carry more berries back to town.

They started on their journey by heading north out of town along the trail that runs parallel to the highway. Lucas took out his Pokeball and released Icarus.

"Keep a lookout in the sky," Lucas told him.

Delia had cautioned him to stay vigilant, as there were thieves who might be lurking at the entrance of the town. These criminals would tail their targets until they were far enough away from the town to avoid attracting attention from authorities, and then proceed to rob them.

Lucas cast a curious gaze around him as he walked. The outskirts of town housed several farms, encircled by sturdy stone walls. It was quite evident that these farms enjoyed superior protection compared to the town itself. Lucas surmised that such fortifications were necessary because the town relied heavily on the food produced by these farms for its inhabitants' survival.

Besides, the upper class has the advantage of having the lower town as a barrier between them and the wilderness.

Beyond the farms stretched vast grass plains where overgrown blades swayed gently in the breeze. They harboured low-level Pokemon, but as one ventured deeper into the forest to the east, they would encounter stronger Pokemon. The gorge from where he first arrived was nestled near the eastern coast of the peninsula, inside a small mountain range.

After an hour of travelling, they veered off the trail and headed northeast through the grass fields. The area was abundant with wild foliage, providing ample hiding spots for Pokemon. Fortunately, Delia had her three Pokemon out, which deterred any approaching Pokemon. Her three Pokemon were at level forty, which is why Mimey was able to rescue him from Arbok just in time. Her third Pokemon was a Chansey named Chase. Apparently, the Pokémon had a love for running ever since he was a baby.

Lucas didn't know the range of his Insight skill's maximum range, but he recalled that he could see the Arbok's parameters from about ten metres away. He would have to test it out. The method could potentially be an effective way of discovering hidden Pokemon if it did not require him to have sighted the Pokemon beforehand.

"How did you find the gorge?" Lucas asked.

"I was out foraging for plants one day when I stumbled across a concealed cave. There was a direct path leading straight into the gorge itself."

"How come others hadn't discovered it before?"

"I'm sure there have been other people who have discovered it, but they probably don't consider the berries worth the effort to haul them out of the gorge."

Lucas noticed a Rattata poke a head out of the bush before it promptly vanished.

"Why don't I stay behind for a while so you can engage in some Pokemon battles?" Delia suggested. "I understand that you're eager to try out Icarus' new moves. Just continue walking in this direction until you reach the tree line. I'll be nearby in case anything happens."

"That's an excellent idea," Lucas agreed.

Delia and her Pokemon fell back and Lucas called Icarus down and perched on his shoulder. The bird began grooming his hair, and Lucas suffered in silence. It was a habit that Icarus adopted recently as they became closer. He supposed it was his way of showing affection.

It didn't take long for the first wild Pokémon to approach them. Despite the low levels of the Pokémon on the field, they displayed extreme aggression. In essence, they were akin to predatory wild animals.

Species: Rattata

Level: 3

Condition: Great

Threat Level: Low

"Alright, let's do this Icarus," Lucas said. "Time to show this pesky Rattata who's boss."

Suddenly, several more Rattata appeared from within the underbrush, causing Lucas to swallow nervously. Some of the Rattata focused their attention on Icarus, while others looked at him with hostility. Taking a few steps back, Lucas noticed that two of Rattata followed his movements. Icarus flew up in front of Lucas, prepared to shield him from any potential threats.

"It's time to unleash the new move you learned, and send these rats flying."

"Pidgey," Icarus chirped in reply. Flying-type energy gathered on his wings as he prepared his offence.

The wind intensified and Lucas prepared himself for a fight.

So, what do you think? Lucas has returned to the outside world and he will start to explore it a lot more going forward.

Thanks for reading.