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

Hi all,

Here's the next chapter. Lucas gains a new Pokemon and a new profession.

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Chapter 7

Lucas found himself locked in a tense stare-off with an Elekid. He was afraid to make any sudden movements, as the Pokemon crackled with electricity. Obviously, it had been startled when he backed into the fence. He hadn't even noticed that it had been there, it was so stealthy. The text hovering above its head indicated the imminent threat of an electric shock.

Species: Elekid

Level: 7

Condition: Excellent

Threat Level: Low

If his memory served him well, Elekid made its debut in the second generation of Pokemon. He had always been fond of this Pokémon because he found its evolution, Electabuzz, to be awesome. Its earlier form also had an appealing appearance.

The Pokemon stood about two feet in height, with a round body that had a vibrant yellow colour and distinct black stripes. Its arms were noticeably skinny compared to its body, featuring three claws instead of fingers. On top of its head, Elekid boasted a set of horns that resembled prongs found on a power plug.

"Don't move, Lucas," Daisy warned as she approached slowly.

"I'm not going anywhere," Lucas replied dryly.

Daisy raised her hands towards the Elekid, speaking in a soothing tone. "Max, I understand that he caught you off guard, but he wasn't trying to hurt you."

"Kid?" The Elekid tilted its head, considering her words.

"That's right. Lucas works here now, and it's his job to take care of you."

Elekid shot another glare at Lucas before turning around and bouncing off the fence, scurrying away on its small, stubby legs.

"I felt my heart stop for a second there," Lucas sighed in relief.

"If he shocked you, it would have stopped your heart," Daisy said jokingly.

"Seriously?"

"Well, it's unlikely at his current level, but it would have been painful," Daisy replied, coming to rest on the fence beside him.

"You called him Max?" Lucas asked, the perilous encounter caused him to momentarily forget the fact that there was a far more terrifying Pokemon present in the enclosure with him."So, what's his story? He didn't look like a Pokemon that should be allowed to roam on his own."

"Maximus, or Max for short. He's a bit of a troublemaker," Daisy replied. "But as long as you don't startle him, he's usually harmless. He ended up here a few weeks ago because his trainer was mistreating him."

"I hope the trainer was punished," Lucas frowned.

"He was stripped of his trainer's licence," Daisy confirmed.

Lucas was surprised that the measure had been taken, even though he didn't disagree with it. "I am surprised the Pokemon League took it that far."

Daisy wrinkled her nose in disgust. "It wasn't the trainer's first offence. He received a stern warning the first time, but he won't be given the same leniency again. The League treats Pokemon abuse with great seriousness."

"I can imagine," Lucas said, thinking about the Legendary Pokemon.

Even though the Legendaries rarely made themselves visible, their power instilled fear in the hearts of people. Personally, he doubted that the Legendaries had much concern for other Pokémon, considering they allowed organisations like Team Rocket to exist, who exploited Pokemon for their own financial gain.

"Come on, I will show you to the kitchens," Daisy said, climbing over the fence. "A big part of your responsibility is to prepare meals for the Pokemon."

Lucas accompanied her as they made their way up to the Pokemon Lab. They circled around the side of the building where there was a set of rolling doors that granted access to a spacious kitchen. The space was fully equipped with a variety of appliances, a generous amount of cooking space, and a complete selection of pots, pans, and utensils. It bore a resemblance to a professional kitchen, except it was for preparing the Pokemon's meals. Two employees were already hard at work, engaged in the task of butchering a carcass. Daisy introduced them before guiding Lucas towards a separate cooking area.

"You'll start off by feeding the smaller and less aggressive Pokemon. You need to gain some confidence before you take on the bigger Pokemon," Daisy explained, as she picked up a folder and opened it. Inside, there was a meal plan for the Pokemon, and pages brimming with recipes.

"With the variety of species you have, feeding them must be quite challenging," Lucas remarked.

Daisy nodded in agreement. "Indeed, all of our Pokemon are unique. We make sure to provide them with diets tailored to their individual needs, steering clear of the cheap and generic products you might find in stores."

Lucas grimaced as if the barb had been aimed squarely at him. Icarus was one of those Pokemon that was fed generic food.

"All of these recipes are really straightforward," Daisy said as she flipped through the pages. "You will have a dozen Pokémon to take care of at first, and they need to be fed three times a day. All of the ingredients you need can be found here, but if there is something else you require, don't hesitate to let Marco, the head chef, know. He will be here shortly."

"Alright," Lucas replied. "Sounds easy enough."

"Did you bring your Pidgey?" Daisy asked.

"Yeah."

"You're welcome to prepare some lunch for him with the ingredients here," Daisy said cheerfully. "Just make sure you don't use anything too expensive. Mrs Ketchum mentioned that you're interested in becoming a Pokemon Breeder. One important aspect of that is being able to provide your Pokemon with a well-rounded nutritious diet. So, I would recommend taking up the offer."

Lucas quickly agreed, realising that with the available ingredients, he could experiment and discover a meal best suited for Icarus.

"Let's get started then," Daisy rolled up her sleeves.

Later that evening, Lucas sat down for dinner with Delia and Ash. As the conversation progressed, Ash began sharing the highlights of his day at school. Soon after, Delia directed her attention towards Lucas.

"How was your first day?" Delia inquired.

"It was actually pretty good," Lucas shrugged, dabbing his mouth with a napkin. "Meeting Scarlet was definitely quite an experience."

"I can just picture it," Deila chuckled mischievously. "Did you have to change out your underwear after coming face-to-face with the gigantic Charizard?"

"It was a near thing," Lucas laughed.

He spent most of the day cooking meals and familiarizing himself with the various Pokemon. Having Daisy by his side was a relief, considering some of the Pokemon were rather intimidating, due to their high levels. Being able to see a Pokemon's level wasn't as helpful as it seemed, as it only highlighted how fragile he was in comparison.

He began his culinary experiments with Icarus, preparing a few meals for the Pokémon. He hadn't found a recipe that suited Icarus' tastes, but he did gain some insights into what the Pokémon didn't like. Pokémon food turned out to be more complicated than he imagined, incorporating various ingredients like different meats, plants, berries, and minerals. It was as diverse as the variety of foods that humans eat.

"Scarlet used to be on Professor Oak's team back in the day," Ash chimed in, "He was unstoppable in the Kanto Pokemon League. Even the Elite Four couldn't lay a finger on him."

"People must feel secure with his Pokemon residing in the town," Lucas said.

"That is true," Delia replied with a smile. "There is only the occasional attack from a Pokemon, so people feel pretty secure."

"Yet the people at the base of the hill are usually the ones to suffer these attacks," Lucas said. "What I can't comprehend is why the town is so terribly divided by class. Why are lower-income families enduring such severe hardships compared to others? And how on earth can the Fearow Gang be permitted to thrive in this town?"

Delia hesitated before answering, giving Ash a quick glance. "It is not only Pallet Town that operates this way. It is a difficult question to answer, but in my opinion, the world was fractured following the Great War and the decrees mandated by Arceus. These changes had far-reaching consequences, including job displacement and an inability for many people to adapt. Furthermore, the government adopted a more isolationist stance, becoming less collaborative and implementing policies that favoured the privileged few instead of the general population. However, the most significant factor, in my view, is..."

"What is it?" Lucas asked, leaning forward in interest.

"The Church of Arceus," Delia said with a distasteful expression, "is an established religion that worships the Legendary Pokemon as deities. It is a massive institution spanning multiple regions, requiring its followers to dedicate both their Pokedollars and time to worship. In return, believers are left with nothing but a misguided faith that their lives will get better. Meanwhile, the leaders of this church amass great wealth for themselves, leaving their loyal believers to grapple with hardship."

Lucas leaned back in his seat, listening as Delia depicted a grim portrayal of the world. He couldn't help but ponder whether Arceus, the all-knowing Pokemon, had foreseen the repercussions that its actions would have on the world. It seemed strange to him that such an omniscient being would not see it coming. Perhaps Arceus prioritised the preservation of the world over caring for people. Undoubtedly, its interventions prevented more wars from breaking out, but he wondered if it was worth it in the long term.

Ash had lost interest during the discussion, excusing himself and heading into the living room. To a nine-year-old boy, the topic was a little too heavy for him and went over his head.

"Hey, mum," Ash called. "Pallet Town is on the news."

Delia and Lucas entered the living room and found Ash fixated on the TV screen. A reporter was discussing a grisly scene in the forest outside of Pallet Town. Lucas stiffened as he witnessed the authorities scouring the ground, which had suffered severe damage from the Pineco explosions. The bodies of the gang members had been discovered. He settled into the sofa and closely watched the news. Despite not believing there was any evidence connecting him to the scene, he couldn't shake off his concerns.

"Ash, this is not something you should be watching," Delia admonished her son and led him out of the living room, disregarding his protests.

Lucas continued to watch and was relieved to hear that the authorities were treating it as a horrible accident. Still, he couldn't be completely sure that he was out of the woods yet. There would be an investigation.

"That's a horrible way to die," Delia said, coming back into the room. "Have they identified who the poor victims were?"

"They were able to identify one of the remains," Lucas said. "He was from the orphanage. His name was Chadwick"

Delia gasped. "Did you know him?"

"Only in passing," Lucas replied. "He joined the Fearow gang months ago. He wasn't a nice guy."

"Oh," Delia said, settling down on the sofa. "While their deaths are regrettable, I find myself caring less about a bunch of gang members who most likely harmed innocent people."

Lucas was troubled by how effortlessly she dismissed their deaths with such callousness, but he couldn't dispute her feelings regarding the matter. They were horrible people, and Chadwick was willing to kill him to increase his standing within the gang.

To take his mind off his heavy thoughts, he returned to his room and nestled into bed with a book he had bought earlier: A Guide to Training Pokémon in the Early Stages.

The book provided information on various aspects related to Pokemon that trainers needed to raise them. Of particular interest to him were the sections about training Pokemon. He realised that his current method was inefficient, and while it may suffice for now, it would gradually lose its effectiveness over time. Besides, he wasn't willing to waste time because he had lofty ambitions to achieve and not a lot of time to accomplish them.

There was a specialised gym in town that could aid Icarus' training with a variety of Pokemon and equipment. He hadn't considered this option previously due to how expensive it was to use its facilities. With his employment at Professor Oak's Lab and other avenues for earning Pokedollars, it was time for him to consider the idea further.

With the bonus gained from his Coach skill, Icarus would find it even easier to increase his stats. This would allow him to continue exploring outside; harvesting ingredients and battling Pokemon. He was required to work during the weekdays, but he had the weekends free.

After searching the stores, he was surprised to find that there were no maps available for purchase that mapped the forest. Any official maps were held by the Pokemon Rangers, who were not inclined to distribute them to the public. He was going to draw his own map, allowing him to document points of interest such as where specific ingredients flourished.

Lucas flipped through the pages of the book until he came across another entry that caught his interest. It was something he needed to learn if he was going to teach Icarus some better moves.

Exploring Type-energy

There is a popular theory that posits that the Pokemon World is a self-regulating complex system that comprises the biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and pedosphere. These interconnected components work together as an evolving system. The fuel that drives these systems is simply known as Type Energy, (in reference to the Pokemon's utilisation of it) which permeates every living thing, even humans to a minor degree.

It greatly impacts Pokemon, as they utilise this energy to enhance their physical abilities, transform it into different forms, and achieve extraordinary feats. How Pokemon learned to harness this energy remains unclear, but some scientists speculate that it stems from their genetic memory, linked to Arceus, which religion believes to be the Original Pokemon. While this theory is controversial, some individuals have embraced it as truth, lacking any other plausible explanation.

Type energy can be separated into 18 different types, and normal-type energy can be converted into every other type. Every species of Pokemon possesses specific affinities for particular types, enabling them to easily control and manipulate these energies in order to execute increasingly more intricate and powerful attacks.

There are two aspects to enhancing a Pokemon's affinity to type energy: the mental aspect and the physical aspect. The physical aspect, which is the cruder method of the two, involves exposing the Pokemon to high levels of type energy in order for it to learn how to harness it more effectively. This method is not very effective, but it is commonly used by beginner trainers at the start to enhance their Pokémon's affinities. Alternatively, meditation is another approach, which is more challenging to master, but it yields the most effective results. Psychic and Dragon Pokemon are popular because they excel at this step compared to others. However, it's important to note that this is a vast oversimplification, as it varies among individuals…..

Well, that was enlightening. Now he had a clearer understanding of how to train Icarus and enhance his affinities with specific types. Although he didn't know Icarus' current affinities, he had a hunch that his flying-type affinity was high, considering how quickly he learned Gust. Unfortunately, this information wasn't displayed in Icarus' status window. He believed that by further levelling up his Insight skill, the information would become available.

His thoughts were interrupted when his cell phone rang, so he put the book down and answered the phone.

"Lucas Walker speaking."

"Excuse me, are you the artist who is advertising the portraits?" a male voice inquired.

"That's me," Lucas confirmed. Was he going to get his first official commission?

"Great. I require your services urgently. I'll be out of town next week and I'm looking for a gift for my nephew."

Lucas jotted down the man's details and arranged to meet him the next day once he was done with work. Ending the call, Lucas couldn't help but pump his fist. He had landed his very first customer, which would earn him a decent profit of seven hundred Pokedollars. It was a pleasant surprise to secure a commission so quickly, but the man's sense of urgency played in Lucas' favour.

Combine that with his new job, and he was starting to earn a decent amount of Pokedollars. The future was looking bright for him.

Lucas gradually slowed down on the treadmill, eventually coming to a complete stop. He took a moment to catch his breath, breathing in deeply before he stepped off the treadmill. Grabbing a towel, he wiped the sweat off his face, feeling the physical exertion from pushing himself harder during today's workout. Although it was a challenge, Lucas was starting to notice a boost in his energy levels after consistently working out over the past few days.

He was surprised to learn that the gym offered facilities for both Pokemon and people. Lucas had the option to rent a private room for Icarus and himself, to train together. Despite the cost, he deemed it worth every single Pokedollar. Exercising in the morning before heading to work provided him with an energy boost that lasted throughout the day.

Above him, Icarus was having a training session of his own. There was a Pidgeotto that was using its wings to bombard the Pokemon with strong gusts of wind. Icarus struggled to maintain his flight, constantly being pushed back. The setup was very efficient and served several purposes.

One, it trained Icarus' Speed and Defence stats. The relentless onslaught of cutting winds caused small tears in his body, prompting the need for repeated healing to prevent excessive damage from occurring. Additionally, he had to beat his wings harder to maintain his flight, which helped increase his speed. Pidgeotto demonstrated precise control over the wind, managing to train Icarus without causing any significant harm.

Another purpose that it served was to train Icarus in his flying-type affinity. He decided to take the book's advice to heart and train Icarus' affinities by exposing him to higher levels of the same energy.

Although using a Pokemon to assist in Icarus' training came at a higher cost, the benefits outweighed the expense, given the positive outcome. It did deplete the Pokedollars he had earned from his first commission.

Lucas checked Icarus' stats and nodded with satisfaction. Icarus had reached the maximum potential for both levels seven and eight in terms of stat gains. Now, he could spend his remaining experience points and find out if it would be enough to level Icarus up to nine.

Training Icarus' stats had an additional benefit—he earned twelve hundred experience points thanks to the Coach skill. However, it fell short of levelling him up once more. He still had four skill points to allocate, but he held off for now.

"That is enough training for today Icarus," Lucas called.

The Pidgeotto ceased its attack, allowing Icarus to fly down and perch on its shoulders. Icarus nestled against Lucas' neck, emitting soft chirps that revealed his exhaustion. Lucas gently stroked the bird's feathers, noticing some snags and tears caused by the fierce winds Icarus had endured.

"You've put in so much effort," Lucas praised him. "I believe you've done more than enough training for the week. Tomorrow, we'll venture out into the forest to explore. I can't wait to see the amazing progress you've made."

Icarus's demeanour brightened as he received the news, a sudden surge of energy seemingly revitalising him. His expression seemed to convey his sentiment of, "Finally! I've waited long enough, human."

Lucas spent Icarus' experience to increase his level to nine before returning him to his Pokeball. He planned to take Icarus to the Pokemon Centre before heading to work.

When he arrived at Professor Oak's Lab, Daisy informed him that her grandfather wanted to see him in his office. Hiding his surprise, Lucas made his way through the corridors, greeting Delia as he passed her small office. He was surprised to learn that she wasn't an employee like him who helped take care of the Pokemon. Well, not in the usual sense. She researched and created new recipes to suit the specific needs of every Pokemon.

Lucas reached Professor Oak's office and knocked on the door.

"Enter."

Lucas walked into the office and found Professor Oak sitting behind his desk, which was completely covered in papers and other items. The sight of the clutter made Lucas's hands twitch, but he resisted the temptation to start cleaning. Although he wasn't obsessed with cleanliness, he preferred a more organised environment. He took a seat and patiently waited for Professor Oak to finish browsing the folder in his hands.

"Mr Walker, I am glad that we could catch up. How are you getting on?" Professor Oak tossed the folder carelessly onto the desk, causing it to slide off and land on the floor.

"I am absolutely loving it, sir," Lucas enthusiastically replied. "I am already gaining so much knowledge about taking care of Pokemon. It will definitely greatly assist me in obtaining my Pokemon Breeder's license."

"Excellent," Professor Oak said, leaning back in his chair and folding his hands under his chin. "Delia mentioned that you aspire to become a Pokemon Breeder. While what you've learned is valuable, it's only the tip of the iceberg. The true knowledge lies in understanding Pokemon genealogy and the process of producing Pokemon Eggs. The amount of information you need to grasp is extensive if you wish to even consider taking the license test."

Lucas nodded, already aware of the fact.

Professor Oak rose from his desk and retrieved a handful of books from the bookshelf. He handed them to Lucas, remarking, "I appreciate your aspiration to become a Pokemon Breeder, but I do not have the time to provide personal guidance. However, what I can offer is access to the extensive collection of books and notes on this very shelf, which contains all the knowledge and wisdom I have amassed over the years. The books I gave you are a good starting point."

Lucas clutched the books in his hands, overwhelmed with gratitude. "Thank you, sir. This is a lot more help than I ever expected. If there is anything I can do for you, then let me know."

Professor Oak gave him a smile, although it didn't reach his eyes. "Good. I only require one thing. Stay away from my granddaughter."

Lucas hesitated as he stood up from his chair, caught off guard by the unexpected response. He took a brief pause to consider the man's demand. Although being presented with an ultimatum like that rubbed him the wrong way, he had to take into account the circumstances he found himself in. Declining meant forfeiting valuable knowledge that could significantly accelerate his progress as a Pokemon Breeder.

"It's a deal," Lucas finally said. "Although, I don't know why you are worried about me pursuing Daisy. She has no interest in me."

"I am just covering my bases," Oak smiled, relaxing. "I have big plans for Daisy, and it doesn't involve unwelcome distractions."

Lucas left the office in two minds. Although he was grateful for the professor's help, the demand to stay away from Daisy had him feeling negatively towards the man. What did the man expect would happen? Taint Daisy with his lower-class upbringing? Asshole.

An hour later, Lucas was in the kitchen, cooking another meal for Icarus. Over the last few days and several experiments, he had a better idea of his tastes and nutritional requirements.

Firstly, Icarus was an omnivore, but he favoured meat the most. His body could derive the highest amount of nutrients from protein-rich meats like lean beef, chicken, and fish. However, Lucas excluded fish from the options as Icarus didn't have a taste for it. Another element that Icarus appreciated was a crunchy texture, so he often incorporated seeds or nuts into his meals. As for the remaining ingredients, Oran berries and some kind of plant were essential since they complete the meal with the required nutrients. Finding a plant that Icarus enjoyed proved to be quite challenging, but it managed to discover one that he tolerated.

Lucas completed his meal by adding the mineral Chromium at the end. The ingredient played a vital role for most Pokemon, as it helps in muscle tissue regeneration, and alleviates minor stresses their bodies accumulate over time.

He poured the concoction into a bowl and presented it to Icarus, who had been watching him avidly all this time. He flew over and landed on the table, and pecked at the food. Icarus' eyes appeared to shine, and he dove into the meal with gusto.

Lucas smiled. It seemed he may have a winner on his hands. Curious, he accessed Icarus' window, and a new entry had appeared under his favourite foods: Icarus Recipe X. What a weird name. There was an additional addendum that specified it as a nutritional meal.

Out of habit, Lucas checked his own status and was pleasantly surprised to see that he had gained a new profession. One that he had been waiting for a long time.

Lucas Walker

Level 8

Next: [5/100%]

Exp Cache: [1200]

Skill Points (SP): 4

Profession(s):

Pokemon Trainer Lv.3

Pokemon Breeder Lv.1

Skills:

Insight [Active/Passive] (Level 2/5)

Coach [Passive] (Level 2/5)

Bountiful Gains [Passive] (Level 1/3)

Pokemon Friendship [Passive] (Level 1/5)

Functions

Inventory (Capacity: 30 slots) [Unlock 10 slots: 10000 Pokedollars]

He had finally gained the Pokemon Breeder profession. Although he didn't know the exact requirement to unlock it, there were several possibilities. Perhaps it was as straightforward as discovering the correct recipe for Icarus. All spending time caring for the Pokemon at the lab. Regardless, he had obtained it and could now focus on levelling it up by continuing the activities he had been engaging in for the past few days. He looked around before he retrieved the guidebook from his inventory and perused the newly added entry.

Skill: Pokemon Friendship Level 1/5 Next: 2 SP Type: Active Charges: 5

Description: The skill enables the player to befriend Pokemon more easily by touching them while activating the skill. They are more likely to view you favourably and refrain from attacking you. At its current level, this only applies to Pokemon that are below level twenty. Levelling up this skill further will increase the level range and improve its effectiveness. Please note that this skill may not be compatible with certain Pokemon. Proceed with caution.

The skill was not specific enough, so he would have to experiment. Also, there was a major flaw. It required physical contact with the Pokémon, which posed potential health risks, as the description explicitly stated that it would not work on some Pokémon. How was he supposed to tell the difference between the Pokemon who will and will not respond to the skill?

Lucas had an idea. There was a particular Pokémon he wanted to try it on, and he was fairly confident he wouldn't be attacked. He had been working with it for the past few days, after all. Perhaps he was fooling himself?

He prepared a second meal before heading outside to the Pokemon enclosure that housed Max. Once there, he spotted the little guy on the other side and proceeded to unlatch the gate before closing it behind him.

"Hey, Max, I have your food here," Lucas called, placing the food down on the ground. He stayed crouched as Max ran over with his stubby little legs. It was incredibly amusing to Lucas, who never tired of watching it. The Pokemon looked at him cautiously for a moment before diving into his bowl. Lucas gently placed his hand on his back. Max, while tense, chose to ignore him and focused on eating his food.

Lucas activated the skill, and he saw an immediate effect. Max relaxed under his hands as he finished off his food. He looked up at him with a much friendlier gaze, although there was still a hint of weariness.

"Kid?"

Lucas smiled as he scratched Max behind his horns, who closed his eyes and leaned into his touch. Max was adorable when he let his guard down.

He had confirmed that the skill worked, although he wasn't sure if its effect was permanent or if it would wear off over time. Regardless, it would make it easier for him to feed the lower-level Pokemon, although he only could use it five times per day currently. He would have to level up the skill further if he wanted to safely feed the more dangerous Pokemon in the future.

Lucas stood up and grabbed the bowl off the ground. Before he could react, Max leapt onto his shoulder. Initially, he believed that the Pokemon was launching an attack against him. However, it turned out that Max wanted to join him. He perched on his shoulder, supporting himself by holding onto Lucas' head.

"Kid," Max urged, gesturing ahead as if to convey, "Hey, come on, my steed. Let's get a move on, pronto!"

Bemused, Lucas made his way back up the path to Professor Oak's Lab. He hoped that Max was not going to follow him around from now on. Although Max joining his team would be great, he doubted that Professor Oak would part with him so easily.

As Lucas stepped back into the kitchen, he found Daisy standing there, waiting for him. "Lucas, did you realise there's something on your shoulder?"

"He is hard to miss," Lucas laughed.

"How did you get him to trust you after such a short amount of time?" Daisy asked, walking up to him. Max jumped into her arms and she hugged him to her chest. Lucky bastard.

"It's my natural charisma, of course," Lucas stated.

"Sure. I will let you know when I see it myself," Daisy replied with a smile.

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

"Since you have befriended him, are you willing to take him on as a new team member?"

So, what do you think? Next chapter, Lucas goes out exploring and finds a Secret Base.

Thanks for reading.